Updated December 3, 2024. One of my goals was to visit all 50 states of the United States. As I got closer to that goal, and now that I've accomplished it, I'm trying to get greater breadth into each state. I'm looking at things like visiting major cities, hiking to the high point, visiting the capitol building, visiting major universities, visiting national parks, monuments and national wildlife refuges, and visiting the various regions of the state.
Below I have a map of the United States that is color coded, with increasingly darker colors indicating greater breadth in that state. Light yellow (level 1) means I've driven through without stopping, or spent insignificant time or had very little breadth. Pink (level 2) indicates I've visited more places and had more breadth. Orange (level 3) indicates I've had relatively extensive travel in the state, even if I've only been there once. Blue (level 4) indicates I've visited multiple times and had extensive breadth. Purple (level 5) indicates I've lived there and/or had extensive travel and breadth in the state. The size of the state and the potential sites of interest have an impact on determining breadth.
Alabama [Level 2]
In January 2014 we drove in from Atlanta on the I-20, then detoured southwest on Hwy 281 to Cheaha Resort State Park, the high point of Alabama. We drove southwest another 100 miles to Montgomery, where we spent the night. The next day we visited the Alabama Capitol Building, the First White House of the Confederacy, Dexter Avenue Baptist Church where Martin Luther King was the pastor, the Dexter Parsonage Museum where he lived and which was bombed, the F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum, St. John's Episcopal Church, the Civil Rights Memorial Center sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, then had a fantastic dinner at True. We then drove southwest another 100 miles to Monroeville where we spent the night. The next morning we drove around rural Monroe County, setting for "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, visited the Monroe County Museum, the courthouse in the movie version of the book, then drove south to Mobile where we visited the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, walked Dauphine Street, and ate at the Mediterranean Sandwich Co. From there we drove east into the panhandle of Florida.
Alaska [Level 3]
In May 2017 we flew into Anchorage and drove to Talkeetna for breakfast at the legendary Talkeetna Roadhouse. Then we continued our drive north to Denali National Park and drove into the end of the 17 mile full-access road before going back out to spend the night. The next day we took a bus to the end of the 92 mile limited-access road in Denali and back out again, an all day affair. We ate a fabulous dinner at 229 Parks and spent another night. We drove 132 miles south to Talkeetna where we took a small plane ride to circle Mt. Denali and landed on a glacier, one of the most amazing things we've ever done. We drove the 84 miles south to Anchorage, stopping at a reindeer farm and musk ox farm in Palmer on the way. We had a great meal at Rustic Goat and spent the night in Anchorage. We drove 222 miles south to Homer at the end of the Kenai Peninsula. We visited the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and made a few stops along the way. Another nice meal at Fat Olives Restaurant in Homer and then spent the night. We took a boat out to circle Gull Island and view otters, whales and birds and then drove 168 miles to Seward on the other side of the Kenai Peninsula where we spent the night. We took an 8 1/2 hour boat ride south into Kenai Fjords National Park and spent another night in Seward. We drove 127 miles north to Anchorage and dropped of our car, then caught a bus to our Princess cruise ship in Whittier. We spent two days at sea without landing, one of them touring the amazing Glacier Bay National Park. We rented a car in Skagway and drove into Yukon Territory and returned. In Juneau we took a flight to Chicagoff Island where we viewed brown bears. We ate at Tracy's King Crab Shack on our return. In Ketchikan we took a flight to Anan Creek and viewed black bears out of a blind for a few hours. Then we had another cruise day and left Alaskan waters to British Columbia.
Arizona [Level 5]
Arizona is one of only a couple of states I've not lived in that I feel like I have great breadth in. I've driven all the freeways at least once: the I-40 between Needles and Gallup, the I-10 between Blythe and Lordsburg, the I-19 between Tucson and Nogales, the I-8 between Yuma and Casa Grande, the I-17 between Phoenix and Flagstaff and the I-10 between Mesquite and St. George (this section more times than I can count). I've been to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument on the Mexico border at least 12 times (including 5 times in 2017 alone), which includes the long drive on Hwy 85 between Buckeye and the border. We've been along the southern border area: Bisbee, Douglas, Sierra Vista, Tombstone, Chiricahua National Monument, Fort Huachuca. Tucson, Saguaro National Park, the Sonora Desert Museum and Casa Grande National Monument. We've taken Hwy 60 northeast up through Prescott and Sedona to Flagstaff and stayed in Oak Creek Village. I've taken Hwy 66 up to Peach Springs and then driven up to and hiked into Supai and into Grand Canyon National Park at least four times. We've driven to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. We've stayed in Flagstaff and climbed Humphreys Peak, the high point of Arizona, visited Sunset Crater Volcano NM, Rainbow Bridge NM, Pipe Spring NM, Navajo NM, Canyon de Chelly NM, Petrified Forest NP, Tuzigoot NM, Walnut Canyon NM, and Wupatki NM. We've stayed in Phoenix and Scottsdale and visited the Phoenix Zoo. We've been up through the Hopi Indian Reservation from Tuba City to Kayenta and visited Monument Valley. We've been to the Navajo Indian Reservation and Chinle and Ganado. I've also been to Wahweap Marina and Lake Powell, boating and on house boats 5 or 6 times.
Arkansas [Level 3]
In 2005, while my daughter lived in Memphis, TN, I visited West Memphis, Arkansas, on the other side of the Mississippi River, just to say I'd been there. Later on that same trip we took the I-55 north through eastern Arkansas to eat in Sikeston, MO. In December 2014, after a stop in Texarkana, TX, we drove northeast up I-30, with a diversion to Hot Springs, looking for Bill Clinton's favorite bbq joint growing up. It was closed so we settled for Smokin' In Style BBQ. We drove on to Little Rock to spend the night. We visited the Arkansas Capitol Building, the Clinton Presidential Library, the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site and had lunch at Whole Hog Cafe. We drove northeast up the I-40 , then took a diversion to Mount Magazine State Park in northwestern Arkansas where we hiked to the summit of Signal Hill, the tallest point in Arkansas, then spent the night at the Mt. Magazine Lodge. The next day we got back to I-40 and continued west to Oklahoma.
California [Level 5]
We lived in San Diego for three years and got to know the San Diego area well. We have lived in Redlands for 34 years and have gotten to know the Inland Empire well. One of our sons went to school and lived in Los Angeles for about 9 years and we visited him fairly regularly, usually going out to a new restaurant each time, so we got to know some areas of Los Angeles pretty well. I flew to Redding with my daughter and climbed Mt. Shasta with her and that is my only experience in northern California above Yuba City, until 2020 (see below). Early in our marriage we drove into California through Lake Tahoe and visited the Concord/Danville area. I've been to San Francisco several times and visited downtown as well as out-lying areas, including Stanford, UC Berkeley and Vallejo. We took two vacations with the children to Monterey and drove along the coast both times to get there. I've spent a lot of times in the Sierras, including at least three times in Yosemite National Park, from one end to the other. We've vacationed in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo areas. We've had family in Bakersfield and Fullerton and visited each of those cities many times. I've backpacked much of the John Muir Trail and have been in Kings Canyon NP, Sequoia NP and Inyo National Forest. I've hiked Mt. Whitney, the high point in California, four times. I've done other fourteeners in California, including Mt. Muir, Mt. Russell, Split Mountain (but not all the way to the top), Mt. Tyndall, Mt. Williamson and White Mountain. I've been to Death Valley NP several times, Mohave National Preserve, Joshua Tree NP many times, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and extensive backpacking in the San Bernardino and Angeles National Forests. In August 2020 we drove to northern California following I-5 from Los Angeles to Sacramento, where we stopped to see the outside of the capitol building (it was closed because of covid). We continued on the I-5 to Redding where we picked up Sam at the airport, and slept the night. We took SR 299 northwest to the coast, just north of Arcata, and followed Hwy 101 to Crescent City, where we spent a night. We visited Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, northeast of Crescent City, Del Norte Coast Redwoods State Park, including False Klamath Bay, Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Redwoods National Park, Arcata, Eureka and spent the night in Fortuna. I visited Humboldt Bay NWR in the morning, then we continued south on Hwy 101, taking the 32 mile Avenue of the Giants Auto Tour in Humboldt Redwoods State Park, between Pepperwood and Phillipsville. We continued south on Hwy 101 to San Rafael, then took I-580 across San Francisco Bay on the beautiful Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, through Berkeley, Oakland, then the I-205 to Manteca, then SR 99 to Modesto, Turlock, Merced, and finally, Madera, where we spent the night. The next day we went east and visited Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP and that evening stayed in Visalia. We then followed SR 99 through Bakersfield and connected to I-5 the rest of the way to Los Angeles. In September 2020, as part of a trip to southern Oregon, we drove from Medford down through northern California on Hwy 199, through Idlewild, Patrick Creek and Hiouchi, then connected to Hwy 101 just north of Crescent City and took it through Fort Dick and Smith River to the Oregon border. Later in the same trip, we traveled from Klamath Falls, in Oregon, down into northern California to do auto tours in South Klamath NWR and Tule Lake NWR and also drove as far as the visitor center in Lava Beds NM, before driving back to Oregon to Ashland. In 2021 I took 17 trips around the Salton Sea, initially visiting the Sonny Bono Salton Sea NWR and Salton Sea SRA, and thereafter primarily focusing on nesting burrowing owls that are abundant there. In September we stayed two nights in Del Mar, visited the Japanese Friendship Garden and San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, ate pizza in North Park, drove through Ocean, Pacific and La Jolla beaches and Point Loma Peninsula, hiked a short trail in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve and visited San Elijo Lagoon several times. In November 2023 we had Thanksgiving dinner with my brother David in San Francisco, eating at the Greek restaurant Estiatorio Ornos. We stayed at the Hotel Caza Fisherman's Wharf, walked through Fisherman's Wharf, took a boat out to Alcatraz Island and visited Dave's apartment in the Castro. On the way up we stayed at The Morgan Hotel in San Simeon and spent a number of hours watching the elephant seals. We backtracked through Cambria, then up to Paso Robles and to Salinas where we ate at the John Steinbeck House. We drove to Santa Cruz and visited the UC Santa Cruz campus, then followed Hwy 1 up to Halfmoon Bay where we walked out to Mavericks, a famous surfing spot in the evening. We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Redwood City and I went walking on trails in Bair Island NWR. Later we went walking along the bay in Redwood Shores. On our way back home we stayed at Quality Inn Kettleman City near Hwy 41 than to Los Angeles where we watched Mamma Mia at the Pantages Theater.
Colorado [Level 5]
In November 1968, on our way back from Kentucky, we stayed in a Day's Inn in Denver and our car was broken into during the night and my Dad's camera was stolen. Later that next day, my father turned in front of a speeding car on the outskirts of Denver and we were hit broadside. We dealt with police two different times that morning and I decided I would never visit Denver or stay in a Day's Inn again. That certainly was not prophetic. In May 1990, as part of what our family calls the "National Parks Vacation," we drove through Colorado National Monument near Grand Junction, then drove Hwy 139 north to Rangely and then back into Utah near Dinosaur National Monument. Later on the same trip, in June, we drove from Wyoming on the I-25 south to Longmont, then drove up to Estes Park and into Rocky Mountain National Park where snow got to be six feet high on both sides of the road. In Denver we visited the U.S. Mint, the Denver Zoo, and the Denver Museum of Natural History. We took the I-25 south through Colorado Springs, then Hwy 50 west to Canon City to Royal Gorge. We bought food in Salida, then took a tram up to Monarch Pass. We drove the south rim of Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Monument. We stopped in Montrose, then went south to Ouray where we took a mine car into a mine. We drove south to almost Silverton where we camped. We continued south to Durango, then south into New Mexico. In late October 1992, Dave Kenison and I drove from Utah to Ouray and up into the Yankee Boy Basin to climb Mt. Sneffels. It was snowy and overcast and we attempted the wrong mountain and ultimately had to turn around and go back to Utah. In August 2008, I climbed Longs Peak in Rocky Mtn. National Park with Sam, Dave Kenison and Rick DeLong. In August 2009, I drove with Dave Kenison from Utah to Ouray and up into the Yankee Boy Basin where we climbed Mt. Sneffels. In September 2009, Judy and I flew to Denver and met her nephew at Buckhorn Exchange for lunch. We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Twin Lakes for two nights and climbed Mt. Elbert, the tallest mountain in Colorado on our 30th anniversary. The next day we took the cog railway to the summit of Pikes Peak in a blizzard and had our anniversary dinner at The Fort in Morrison. In August 2010 I spent three nights with my boys in Frisco. We did the following mountains: Evans, Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln, Grays Peak and Torreys Peak. In August 2011, I spent three nights with my boys, one in Twin Lakes, one in Frisco and one in Denver. We ate at Buckhorn Exchange and The Fort, and climbed the following mountains: Sherman, Oxford, and Belford. In August 2012, Sam and I climbed Mounts Harvard and Columbia, then spent the night in Georgetown. The next morning we did Mt. Bierstadt, then picked up Andrew at the airport in Denver. We spent the night in Salida. The next day we climbed Shavano and Tabeguache and spent the night in Salida. The next day we climbed Mt. Massive and spent the night in Georgetown. In August 2013 Judy joined me and Andrew. We spent a night in Denver, then four nights in Buena Vista. We climbed Quandary Peak, La Plata Peak and Mount Yale. Judy and Andrew foraged lots of mushrooms and Andrew made amazing mushroom soup and fried mushrooms. In August 2014 I flew to Denver and then drove to San Luis and did Culebra Peak. I stayed in Salida that night, then climbed Mt. Princeton, Huron Peak and Missouri Mountain, staying in Buena Vista for three nights. Judy, Sam, Andrew, Rachael and her two girls joined me in a cabin outside Buena Vista for four nights. After one night at the cabin and having altitude issues, I stayed the next three nights in Salida at lower altitude. After that 1968 trip where I said I would never visit Denver again, I was back to Colorado at least 11 times, most of them going through Denver. In fact, I visited 7 years in a row and one of those years I visited twice. In total, I climbed 26 fourteeners before altitude sickness caught up to me. In October 2020 Judy and I flew into Denver, then drove 77 miles north to the Crow Valley Family Campground in the Pawnee National Grassland. We drove north 25 miles to Hereford and then 19 miles east on CR 136, then 2 miles north on CR 111 into Nebraska. We drove back down into the Pawnee National Grassland and saw the Pawnee Buttes from the north and south, then south to Fort Morgan where we spent the night. From Fort Morgan we followed a zig zaggy route 179 miles through the farmland of eastern Colorado, through Brush to Akron, then south to Anton, then southeast to Cope, south to Seibert, east to Burlington, south on CR 385 to County Road G and into Kansas. Later we entered back into Colorado from the south through Raton, NM, stopping for ice cream in Trinidad, then spending the night in Pueblo, before flying home from Denver.
Connecticut [Level 1]
In March 2011 we drove from New York City to Massachusetts and drove through Connecticut on the I-95. We stopped in Milford for the night and ate at a Thai restaurant. The next day we visited the campus of Yale University in New Haven before continuing on into Rhode Island.
Delaware [Level 1]
In April 2016 we drove into Delaware from JFK in New York. We stopped at the Ebright Azimuth, the high point of Delaware, in a suburb of Wilmington, toured Old Swede's Church, visited St. Anthony of Padua Church and had lunch at the Big Fish Grill next to the Christina River, all in Wilmington. In May 2017 we drove from Baltimore on I-95 through the northern tip of Delaware, just south of Wilmington, without stopping. Later on that same trip, we took Hwy 1 off the I-95 southwest of Wilmington through Bear, Red Lion, Williamsburg, Biddles Corner and Odessa, to Hwy 299, then on to Hwy 301 into Maryland. Somewhere along the way there we stopped at a road side stand and bought some bottled pickles and other goodies.
Florida [Level 4]
In January 2013, as part of a week long seminar in Orlando, I added time on both ends of the seminar to see Florida. I drove 99 miles northwest from Orlando to Crystal River, on the Gulf Coast, to go snorkeling for manatees. Then I drove 123 miles northeast to St. Augustine on the Atlantic Coast, where I visited Castillo de San Marcos and the Spanish landing site. I spent the night in St. Augustine, then visited the St. Augustine Alligator Farm, visited a number of churches, including the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine, had a couple of meals at the Floridian, then drove 107 miles south to Orlando for my seminar. During the seminar I ate meals in Kissimmee, Orlando and Winter Park. Judy flew into Orlando at the end of the seminar and we drove 268 miles south to Florida City, outside of Everglades National Park, with a diversion to Miami, where we visited Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and ate at Joe's Stone Crab in South Beach. We spent two nights in Florida City and took several forays in to the southern portion of Everglades National Park, driving the 43 miles all the way to Flamingo and the basin off the Florida Keys, and hiking the 3.2 mile round trip Snake Bight Trail. The next day we drove 126 miles through the Florida Keys to Key West, the last island, and visited the Ernest Hemingway home and the Little White House of President Harry Truman. After spending the night in Key West, we drove back to Miami, had lunch in Coral Gables, and flew home. In January 2014, I took the same seminar in Orlando again, and took time at both ends, again, for sight seeing. We entered Florida through the panhandle, traveling east from Mobile, Alabama on the I-10, 110 miles to De Funiak Springs, about halfway between Mobile and Tallahassee. The next morning, in a deluge,we drove northwest 25 miles, almost to the Alabama state line, to Britton Hill, the high point of Florida, the lowest state high point in the U.S. We continued on for 146 miles, back to the I-10 and then southeast to Tallahassee, the state capitol, where we walked the Florida State University campus and toured the old Florida Capitol Building. We drove 150 more miles southeast to Gainesville, where we spent the night. The next morning we drove 23 miles southeast to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings State Historic Park, between Orange Lake and Lochloosa Lake. From there it was 112 miles to Orlando where Judy took a flight home. One day's schedule of my seminar did not look great, so I took the day and traveled east to Cape Canaveral and visited the Kennedy Space Center, the Canaveral National Seashore and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (driving both Biolab Road and Black Point Wildlife Drive). After my seminar, I drove 168 miles southwest to Sanibel Island, near Fort Myers, on the Gulf Coast. I walked the four mile Indigo Trail in the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and spent the night in Fort Myers. Early the next morning I drove the four mile one way road in the Refuge twice, then drove 125 miles (interrupted by lunch in Naples) to the mid-region of Everglades National Park (north of the region I'd visited the year before) to Shark Valley, where I took a tram and did some walking. Then I drove five hours back to Orlando where I spent the night and took a flight home the next morning. In January 2018 I went to Orlando for the third time for the seminar, this time without Judy. Saturday morning, when I arrived, I drove southeast 46 miles to the Viera Wetlands, near Melbourne. Then I drove 35 miles north to the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge and was relieved to find it open, despite a government shutdown. Then it was a long 172 mile drive north on the I-95 along the Atlantic Coast to Fort Clinch State Park on the northern tip of Amelia Island. Along the way I had a bbq lunch in Ormond Beach at the Pig Stand, drove past St. Augustine and drove through Jacksonville with its impressive skyscrapers. At the State Park I quickly walked through the fort, then hiked a good portion of the Willow Pond Nature Trail. I spent some time in the Amelia Island Historic District, including dinner at Timoti's Seafood Shak, and spent the night in Fernandina Beach. The next morning I drove into Georgia to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, then back south into Florida on Hwy 23, then over to Hwy 301, where I stopped in Starke for lunch at Sonny's BBQ. I drove further south to the La Chua Trail in Paynes Prairie Reserve State Park, just south of Gainesville, then into Gainesville where I took a walk in the University of Florida campus, and in particular, the Ben Hill Griffin football stadium known as "The Swamp." I had dinner at Harry's Seafood Bar and Grille, then drove the 124 miles south to Kissimmee where I was staying for my seminar. Friday morning I drove northeast past Christmas to the Orlando Wetland Park and spent a number of hours walking the trails. Then I drove a little further east to Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve, for the second time on this trip, and also a quick drive into the Canaveral National Seashore. From there I drove 97 miles southwest to Winter Haven where I spent the night. I spent the morning in the Circle B Bar Reserve, west of Winter Haven near Lake Hancock, then drove west through Tampa, across a very long span of freeway over Tampa Bay, to St. Petersburg where I visited the Dali Museum. Afterwards, I drove back to Circle B Bar Reserve, where I'd had so much fun earlier in the day, then drove back to Orlando where I stayed the night before an early flight out Sunday morning.
Georgia [Level 2]
In March 1999 we flew into Atlanta on our way to Great Britain. Our flight was overbooked, so we got $800 in flight vouchers to delay our flight from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. With the extra time, we took the Atlanta subway (MARTA) to downtown Atlanta. We stopped at the Peachtree Center, then walked to Olympic Centennial Park, location of the 1996 Summer Olympic games. In March 2013 we drove into Savannah from South Carolina. We had mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, toured the Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home, drove outside of town to Fort Pulaski National Monument, visited the Jepson Center for the Arts and ate dinner at The Olde Pink House Restaurant. We spent one night, then drove back out the way we came through South Carolina. In January 2014 we flew into Atlanta on a trip ending in Florida. We visited the Georgia capital building and ate dinner at Agave, before spending the night in Atlanta. The next day we visited the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, that includes Ebenezer Baptist Church and King's birth home, then the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum. After lunch at Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles, we drove the I-20 southwest out of Georgia to Alabama. In January 2018 I drove from Fernandina Beach, FL to Folkston, GA and then into Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in southeastern, Georgia. I took the Swamp Island Drive, walked the 1.5 mile roundtrip Chesser Island Boardwalk and took a 90 minute flat-bottomed swamp boat ride into the swamp. I then drove back south to Florida on Hwy 23.
Hawaii [Level 5]
I lived in Hawaii from July 1975 to May 1976, right after I graduated from high school, while my parents were mission presidents in Hawaii for the LDS Church. Before moving to Honolulu, where the mission home was in Nuuanu, we visited Kailua Kona in July for a few days on the Big Island and visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In August, with my friend Paul, we rode bicycles from Lihue, Kauai, 32 miles to Hanalei where we slept on the ground outside an LDS Church, then cycled back to Kapaa the next day where we slept in the Relief Society room in the church there. We flew back to Honolulu the third day. I visited Kauai again with my parents and we went at least as far as Kekaha to the west and Hanalei to the north. I attended a year of college at BYU-Hawaii in Laie. I took the bus back to Honolulu for most weekends. In November I flew to Kahului, Maui with my parents while Maui was changed from a District to a Stake. I also spent some time in Lahaina. I believe I may also have visited Maui with my parents on another occasion. I remember Kaanapali and the Iao Valley. Later in November I was at Waimea Bay to see the Smirnoff Surf Contest in 15 to 20 foot waves. I also visited the island of Lanai, including Lanai City, and the island of Molokai, including Kaunakakai and Hoolehua. I traveled all over Oahu on all of the major roads. In October 1993 we took the whole family to Hawaii and stayed with my parents who were living in Hauula, near Laie, on Oahu. We visited Pearl Harbor, Sunset, Pipeline, Hanauma Bay, and Honolulu Zoo. Mom and Dad took care of the kids while Judy and I flew to Hilo on the Big Island. We visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and stayed the night in Hilo. The next day we drove up the Saddle Road to the top of Mauna Kea, at over 13,000 feet, the tallest mountain in Hawaii. We also drove part way up Mauna Loa before needing to turn around because Judy wasn't feeling well. We visited Akaka Falls and the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo outside of Hilo. Judy and I visited Hawaii again later, I don't recall the year. We stayed at the Turtle Bay Hilton on the North Shore and drove the North Shore, among other things.
Idaho [Level 2]
I went to a scout camp in Idaho City, northeast of Boise, when I was a youth. I visited Coeur d'Alene, in the panhandle, to meet potential clients, after flying into Spokane. We've been to Island Park on a trip to Yellowstone and also visited Sun Valley and Craters of the Moon NM and Preserve. I remember driving through Pocatello on the I-15. I know I've been there more than that, but it was years ago.
I went to a scout camp in Idaho City, northeast of Boise, when I was a youth. I visited Coeur d'Alene, in the panhandle, to meet potential clients, after flying into Spokane. We've been to Island Park on a trip to Yellowstone and also visited Sun Valley and Craters of the Moon NM and Preserve. I remember driving through Pocatello on the I-15. I know I've been there more than that, but it was years ago.
Illinois [Level 2]
In November 1968, with my father and grandparents, we drove through Illinois on our way to Kentucky. I believe we drove through Rockford on our way north to Wisconsin, then took Hwy 12 southeast through the toll booths in Chicago and around the edge of Lake Michigan. On the way back, we took the I-64 (or the road that preceded it) through southern Illinois. In 2005, when Andrew was looking at where to go to college, we visited Chicago to see the Art Institute of Chicago and took a tour. We visited the Field Museum, went to the top of the Sears Tower, ate at a Polish restaurant in a Polish section of Chicago and some other activities I don't recall. We also visited Nauvoo and Carthage and the Mormon sites in those areas. We flew home from Chicago.
Indiana [Level 1]
In November 1968, when I was 11, we drove through the toll booths in Chicago and then around the edge of Lake Michigan, through Gary and northeast to South Bend, Indiana. We stayed in South Bend two nights. On November 9th my Dad and I attended the football game between Notre Dame and Pittsburgh at Notre Dame Stadium. The next day we traveled south on Hwy 31 to Indianapolis, then south on I-65 to Seymour, Indiana where we ate lunch at a Holiday Inn. We continued south and crossed the Ohio River into Louisville, Kentucky. On the way back we took the I-64 (or the road that preceded it) through southern Indiana.
Iowa [Level 3]
In November 1968 I traveled the I-80 through Iowa with my father and grandparents. I recall Des Moines and Iowa City. In June 2015, after a drive up from Kansas City, we stopped in Lamoni, to see Graceland University, owned by the Community of Christ. From Lamoni we traveled north 80 miles on the I-35, then turned east for 114 miles on the I-80 to Iowa City where we spent the night. In the morning we visited the University of Iowa campus, then drove 10 miles west on the I-80 to West Branch to visit the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum and eat at Reid's Beans Coffee Shop Cafe. We drove west, back-tracking part of the way, 33 miles to the Amana Colony. Then we drove 104 miles west to Des Moines where we ate at Proof, walked the Pappa John Sculpture Park and walked the Iowa Capitol grounds. We spent the night in Des Moines. In the morning, we went inside the Capitol Building, which is absolutely beautiful, then drove 127 miles west on the I-80 to Council Bluffs, right on the border with Nebraska, where we visited a replica of the Kanesville Tabernacle built by Brigham Young.
Kansas [Level 3]
I've been to Kansas four times. In November 1968, on our way back from Kentucky, we took the I-70, or whatever preceded it, through Kansas, from Kansas City, through Topeka, Salina and Hays, to the Colorado state line and Denver. We were in a horrible storm with wind that buffeted the car and rain so hard we could barely see. In June 2015, we drove into Abilene from Lincoln, Nebraska, where we spent the night. In the morning we visited the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home, then drove 63 miles east to Wamego, east of Manhattan, where we visited the Oz Museum and ate at Friendship House. We drove 44 miles southeast to Topeka and visited the Brown v. Bd. of Education National Historic Site and had a wonderful dinner at Row House Restaurant. We spent the night in Topeka. In the morning we went to LDS sacrament meeting, then drove 26 miles to Lawrence and visited the University of Kansas campus. We spent the night in Kansas City, Missouri, but drove back to Topeka the next day to visit the Kansas Capitol Building and the First Presbyterian Church of Topeka next door with Tiffany stained glass windows. Then we drove to Kansas City, Kansas and ate at Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que, located in a gas station. In October 2020 we took dirt roads from eastern Colorado into western Kansas to drive to the top of Mount Sunflower, the high point of Kansas. From there we drove dirt roads south and east for 15 miles to Weskan, then Hwy 40 12 miles east to Sharon Springs, then Hwy 27 south for 114 miles through Tribune, Syracuse and Johnson City to Richfield (stopping in Syracuse to eat at Porky's Parlor). From Richfield we went west, then south on Hwy 27 for 16 miles, then took a dirt road southwest into Cimarron National Grassland to visit Point of Rocks Pools, Middle Spring and Point of Rocks, waypoints on the Santa Fe Trail. We then followed dirt roads east and then south to Hwy 56 and stopped for gas in Elkhart before continuing on Hwy 56 into Oklahoma. In October 2024 I went to Kansas City, Missouri with Judy for a conference she was attending there. The afternoon we landed we drove to Kansas City, Kansas to eat again at Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que for the second time. It was Anthony Boudain's favorite barbeque place. We had barbeque pork ribs and they were very good, better than our first time. The next day I drover out to Shawnee Mission Park to look for birds and spent most of the day there. It is 1,655 acres with a 150 acre lake and ate lunch at Meddy's, a Mediteranean food place nearby.
Kentucky [Level 1]
I visited Kentucky with my father and grandparents in November 1968 to pick up my brother Mike from an LDS mission in Louisville. I don't remember the itinerary in Kentucky, but we did do some driving around, and I believe we visited Frankfort.
Louisiana [Level 3]
In June 2004 we flew into Baton Rouge en route to visit our daughter who was living in Memphis. Our first night we had a cabin in the swamp at Wildlife Gardens in Gibson, northwest of Houma. We took the Cajun Man Swamp Tour about 10 miles west of Houma and the Honey Island Swamp Tour outside of Slidell. We visited Kliebert's Turtle and Alligator Farm in Hammond. We visited New Orleans, including a walk and dinner in the French Quarter. In November 2021 we drove into Lake Charles, from Houston, and spent the night at L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. The next morning we drove south on Hwy 27 and walked the small boardwalk at the Cameron Prairie NWR, then drove the 3 mile Pintail Wildlife Drive where we saw snow geese, an alligator and some turtles. We drove through Cameron which was hit by a hurricane about a year prior and saw lots of devastation. We ate at a food truck in Cameron, then took a ferry across the Calcasieu ship channel. We then drove north on Hwy 27 to the Sabine NWR where we walked the 1.5 mile Wetland Walkway and saw several alligators. We drove back to Hwy 82 and went through Holly Beach and then spent time at Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary. From there it was 30 miles back into Texas where we spent the night.
In June 2004 we flew into Baton Rouge en route to visit our daughter who was living in Memphis. Our first night we had a cabin in the swamp at Wildlife Gardens in Gibson, northwest of Houma. We took the Cajun Man Swamp Tour about 10 miles west of Houma and the Honey Island Swamp Tour outside of Slidell. We visited Kliebert's Turtle and Alligator Farm in Hammond. We visited New Orleans, including a walk and dinner in the French Quarter. In November 2021 we drove into Lake Charles, from Houston, and spent the night at L'Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles. The next morning we drove south on Hwy 27 and walked the small boardwalk at the Cameron Prairie NWR, then drove the 3 mile Pintail Wildlife Drive where we saw snow geese, an alligator and some turtles. We drove through Cameron which was hit by a hurricane about a year prior and saw lots of devastation. We ate at a food truck in Cameron, then took a ferry across the Calcasieu ship channel. We then drove north on Hwy 27 to the Sabine NWR where we walked the 1.5 mile Wetland Walkway and saw several alligators. We drove back to Hwy 82 and went through Holly Beach and then spent time at Peveto Woods Bird and Butterfly Sanctuary. From there it was 30 miles back into Texas where we spent the night.
Maine [Level 3]
In September 2011 we drove from North Conway, NH southeast 55 miles on Hwy 113 (about 50 miles in Maine) to Lake Grange, Maine where we visited Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village (northwest of Portland). From there we drove 35 miles south along the I-95 to Wells where we ate at the Maine Diner and visited the Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge. Then 6 miles northeast (some of it backtracking) to Kennebunkport to eat at Clam Shack and Mabel's Lobster Claw. We backtracked another 12 miles (north) to Saco where we spent the night. The next morning we drove south 40 miles to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, just over the Maine border. In August 2018 we flew into Bangor and spent the night before driving east 95 miles on Hwy 9 to the Canadian border, near St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Later on the trip, we came back into Maine from Woodstock, New Brunswick, following the I-95 120 miles southwest to Bangor where we spent the night after cooking mushrooms in the hotel parking lot. The next morning we drove from Bangor 160 miles south to Wells where we did the Rachel Carson NWR again, but this time with Andrew. It was another 23 miles to the border near Portsmouth and we continued on to Boston where we caught a cruise. The first stop on our cruise, later on the same trip, was Bar Harbor, right next to Acadia National Park. We walked through Bar Harbor, then took a tour of Acadia and an amazing lobster meal in Southwest Harbor before leaving by cruise ship again.
Maryland [Level 2]
In October 2013 we drove north of Davis, West Virginia, into Maryland, above Keyser, on Hwy 220 to Cumberland, following the northeastern edge of the "V" notch of Maryland into West Virginia. We drove I-68 along the weird northern edge of Maryland, then to I-70, then south on Hwy 65 to Antietam National Battlefield. From Antietam we continued south on Hwy 65 to cross the Potomac River into West Virginia at Harpers Ferry. In May 2017, as part of a Washington, D.C./New York trip, we drove from Washington, D.C. northeast on the I-95 through Baltimore to Delaware. On the way back from New York, we drove into Maryland, the eastern end across Chesapeake Bay, from Delaware on Hwy 301 and crossed the Chesapeake Bay on a bridge to Hwy 50, then south to Annapolis, the capitol city. In Annapolis we took a tour of the U.S. Naval Academy, visited the Maryland State House and St. Anne's Church, drove southwest to Riva where we had a nice seafood dinner at Mike's Crab House, then drove northwest to Elkridge, outside of Baltimore, where we spent the night. The next morning we visited Johns Hopkins University, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (aka the Baltimore Basilica), the Edgar Allen Poe House and Museum and grave site, the Babe Ruth Birthplace and Museum, Fort McHenry National Monument, the Historic Ships of Baltimore (the ship Constellation and submarine Torsk), and ate dinner at La Scala Ristorante, before driving to Virginia to spend the night.
Massachusetts [Level 2]
In March 2011 we drove from New York north to Massachusetts. We drove Hwy 44 from Rhode Island over to Plymouth where we looked at the Pilgrim sites and ate seafood at Cabby Shack. We drove north on Hwy 3 to Boston where we visited Harvard College and MIT and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. We followed the Freedom Trail and visited Boston Common, the Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel and Burying Ground, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, Old North Church and Bunker Hill. We had dinner at the Barking Crab with friends who were there on a visit to Harvard with their son. We drove northwest to Concord and visited Walden Pond, the site of the Battle of Concord, the Louisa May Alcott home and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery which included the graves of Louisa May Alcott, Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. We flew home from Boston. In August 2018 we drove south on I-95 from New Hampshire to Boston and caught our Princess Cruise ship in Boston Harbor.
In March 2011 we drove from New York north to Massachusetts. We drove Hwy 44 from Rhode Island over to Plymouth where we looked at the Pilgrim sites and ate seafood at Cabby Shack. We drove north on Hwy 3 to Boston where we visited Harvard College and MIT and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. We followed the Freedom Trail and visited Boston Common, the Granary Burying Ground, King's Chapel and Burying Ground, the Old South Meeting House, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere's House, Old North Church and Bunker Hill. We had dinner at the Barking Crab with friends who were there on a visit to Harvard with their son. We drove northwest to Concord and visited Walden Pond, the site of the Battle of Concord, the Louisa May Alcott home and Sleepy Hollow Cemetery which included the graves of Louisa May Alcott, Henry Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne. We flew home from Boston. In August 2018 we drove south on I-95 from New Hampshire to Boston and caught our Princess Cruise ship in Boston Harbor.
Michigan [Level 1]
In November 1968, while staying in South Bend, Indiana, my father drove me north to cross the Michigan state line so that I could say I'd been there (I was counting the number of states I visited, if you can believe that!). In June 2016 I drove north from Wisconsin and once I reached Michigan's Upper Peninsula, or UP, drove 89 miles, hooking int Hwy 2, then Hwy 131 north to L'Anse at the base of Keweenaw Bay. From there I drove another 27 miles on a twisting route northeast to Mt. Arvon, the highest point in Michigan. Once back to L'Anse, I drove 79 miles north up into the Keweenaw Peninsula to Copper Harbor at the end, jutting into Lake Superior. I drove back 33 miles to Houghton, mid-peninsula, for the night. I then drove 85 miles back to Wisconsin, using Hwy 26 to Mass City, then Hwy 45 to Land O'Lakes, Wisconsin, on the border. Aside from the foregoing, we have been to the Detroit airport on quite a few times as a layover between flights.
Minnesota [Level 3]
In October 2015, we flew into Minneapolis/St. Paul to visit Judy's sister. We got in after midnight and stayed at a nearby hotel. We picked up a rental car in the morning and met Judy's sister at Mall of America where we walked around. We visited Fort Snelling State Park, then Minnehaha Park and the beautiful Minnehaha Falls and an early lunch at Sea Salt Eatery. Then the Basilica of St. Mary in St. Paul, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and then dinner at Piccolo, a favorite of Andrew Zimmern. We spent the night at Judy's sister's home right off the Mississippi River in Anoka. The next day was the St. Paul Farmer's Market, the Cathedral of St. Paul, we drove by the closed (under construction) Minnesota Capitol Building, then the Hmongtown Marketplace for lunch, another favorite of Andrew Zimmern. After a quick visit to Wisconsin, we spent another night at Judy's sister's home. After an LDS church service in Anoka we drove 175 miles north to Duluth, then up Hwy 61, known as the North Shore Drive. We stopped in Knife River at Kendall's Smokehouse for smoked fish, drove to Gooseberry Falls State Park and viewed waterfalls, then to Split Rock Lighthouse, then to Tettegouche State Park and a hike to High Falls. Then a 50 miles drive north to Grand Marais where we ate at the Angry Trout Cafe and spent the night just off the shore of Lake Superior. Early the next morning, we drove 44 miles north to the Canadian border to Grand Portage State Park on the U.S. side. We hiked into High Falls, the tallest waterfall in Minnesota, then drove west into the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and hiked seven miles round trip to Eagle Mountain, the tallest point in Minnesota. We saw a wolf on the hike in, an extraordinary and hair-raising experience. We had a long drive back to Minneapolis, with a brief stop at Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth for dinner and a drive across the Aerial Lift Bridge. We stayed at a hotel near the airport and flew home the next morning.
In October 2015, we flew into Minneapolis/St. Paul to visit Judy's sister. We got in after midnight and stayed at a nearby hotel. We picked up a rental car in the morning and met Judy's sister at Mall of America where we walked around. We visited Fort Snelling State Park, then Minnehaha Park and the beautiful Minnehaha Falls and an early lunch at Sea Salt Eatery. Then the Basilica of St. Mary in St. Paul, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, the Minneapolis Institute of Art and then dinner at Piccolo, a favorite of Andrew Zimmern. We spent the night at Judy's sister's home right off the Mississippi River in Anoka. The next day was the St. Paul Farmer's Market, the Cathedral of St. Paul, we drove by the closed (under construction) Minnesota Capitol Building, then the Hmongtown Marketplace for lunch, another favorite of Andrew Zimmern. After a quick visit to Wisconsin, we spent another night at Judy's sister's home. After an LDS church service in Anoka we drove 175 miles north to Duluth, then up Hwy 61, known as the North Shore Drive. We stopped in Knife River at Kendall's Smokehouse for smoked fish, drove to Gooseberry Falls State Park and viewed waterfalls, then to Split Rock Lighthouse, then to Tettegouche State Park and a hike to High Falls. Then a 50 miles drive north to Grand Marais where we ate at the Angry Trout Cafe and spent the night just off the shore of Lake Superior. Early the next morning, we drove 44 miles north to the Canadian border to Grand Portage State Park on the U.S. side. We hiked into High Falls, the tallest waterfall in Minnesota, then drove west into the Boundary Water Canoe Area Wilderness and hiked seven miles round trip to Eagle Mountain, the tallest point in Minnesota. We saw a wolf on the hike in, an extraordinary and hair-raising experience. We had a long drive back to Minneapolis, with a brief stop at Northern Waters Smokehaus in Duluth for dinner and a drive across the Aerial Lift Bridge. We stayed at a hotel near the airport and flew home the next morning.
Mississippi [Level 1]
In June 2005, on our way to visit our daughter who lived in Memphis, we drove I-55 north from Louisiana to Hwy 98 which we took northwest to Natchez on the Mississippi River in hopes of getting pie at Mammy's Cupboard. Unfortunately it was closed. We drove north to Vicksburg on Hwy 61 where we spent the night and spent some time looking at the Civil War sites. We headed east on I-20 to Jackson, then north on I-55 to Memphis. On several trips visiting our daughter, we drove to Oxford and visited the University of Mississippi and took a tour of the William Faulkner home which is just south of there. We also drove Hwy 72 through northern Mississippi to Corinth and then north to visit the Shiloh Civil War site.
In June 2005, on our way to visit our daughter who lived in Memphis, we drove I-55 north from Louisiana to Hwy 98 which we took northwest to Natchez on the Mississippi River in hopes of getting pie at Mammy's Cupboard. Unfortunately it was closed. We drove north to Vicksburg on Hwy 61 where we spent the night and spent some time looking at the Civil War sites. We headed east on I-20 to Jackson, then north on I-55 to Memphis. On several trips visiting our daughter, we drove to Oxford and visited the University of Mississippi and took a tour of the William Faulkner home which is just south of there. We also drove Hwy 72 through northern Mississippi to Corinth and then north to visit the Shiloh Civil War site.
Missouri [Level 3]
I've been to Missouri four times. In November 1968, on our way back from Kentucky, we drove through St. Louis where we saw the Gateway Arch. We spent the night in a ramshackle pre-built motel on the west side of St. Louis. From there we took the I-70, or whatever preceded it, across Missouri to Kansas City. We stopped in Independence and took a guided tour of the RLDS Tabernacle and Liberty to see the Liberty Jail where Joseph Smith was imprisoned. In 2005, we visited our daughter in Memphis, then drove north to Chicago with Andrew. We ate in Sikeston, MO at Lambert's Cafe, "home of the throwed rolls," then continued on I-55 north to St. Louis and then Hwy 61 north to Hannibal where we spent the night and saw the sights. We continued north on Hwy 61 to Nauvoo, IL. In June 2015 I flew into Kansas City to meet Judy after a conference and I visited the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art and we ate together at Fiorella's Jack Stack Barbecue, maybe my favorite barbecue anywhere. We headed north on the I-35 about 110 miles to the Iowa border on our way to Des Moines. Toward the end of the trip we came back to Kansas City through Kansas and ate again at Fiorella's, as well as Gram & Dun. We stayed one night and visited the National World War I Memorial, then drove 10 miles east to Independence to visit the Harry S. Truman Library & Museum, the Community of Christ Temple and the Community of Christ Stone Church, then 13 miles north to Liberty where we saw the Liberty Jail Historic Site. In October 2024 I went to Kansas City with Judy while she attended a conference there. I visitted the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium and really loved it for its large size, spread out exhibits and wonderful birds. We ate at Jack Stack Barbecue again, twice, and stayed at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. We walked through the covered path between high rise hotels and took a trolley into downtown where we visited my sister, Merilee Sine, who was working for a non-profit selling items for a non-profit.
Montana [Level 2]
As a 12 or 13 year old boy, my family drove up through Montana and visited Glacier NP, although a remember very little about it. Judy's sister lives in Billings and we have been there several times. On one occasion we drove in on the I-90 up from Wyoming and noted, but did not stop at, the Little Bighorn Battlefield NM. On at least one occasion we've flown in. We've driven from Billings to Red Lodge where her brother-in-law's family has a cabin and spent time there. We've also driven from there into Yellowstone NP on the Beartooth Hwy. We've also been into the Cooke City-Silver Gate area and into Yellowstone from there.
As a 12 or 13 year old boy, my family drove up through Montana and visited Glacier NP, although a remember very little about it. Judy's sister lives in Billings and we have been there several times. On one occasion we drove in on the I-90 up from Wyoming and noted, but did not stop at, the Little Bighorn Battlefield NM. On at least one occasion we've flown in. We've driven from Billings to Red Lodge where her brother-in-law's family has a cabin and spent time there. We've also driven from there into Yellowstone NP on the Beartooth Hwy. We've also been into the Cooke City-Silver Gate area and into Yellowstone from there.
Nebraska [Level 3]
In November 1968 I traveled east with my father and grandparents to pick up my brother, Mike, from an LDS mission in Kentucky. Our first night out we stayed in Ogallala, Nebraska. We traveled through Nebraska on the I-80 (I don't know if the freeway on that section had been built then or not) through Lincoln and Omaha. I remember the clean streets of Omaha, so the I-80 must not have existed there yet. In June 2015 we drove to Florence, a suburb of Omaha, from Iowa, and visited the Mormon Trail Center at Winter Quarters, saw the outside of the Winter Quarters Temple and the Pioneer Cemetery and ate at Mouth of the South Southern Grub. We drove 60 miles southwest on I-80 to Lincoln, where we visited the Nebraska Capitol Building and St. Mary's Catholic Church, saw the outside of the University of Nebraska Memorial Stadium and ate at Sebastian's Table. From Lincoln we drove south to Abilene, KS, about 60 miles of it in Nebraska. In October 2020 we drove from Colorado over the Nebraska state line to the High Point Ranch to visit Panorama Point, the high point of Nebraska, which is just about a mile from the border of Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska.
Nevada [Level 4]
We've driven the I-15 in southern Nevada between California and Arizona so many times that it seems like that is Nevada. We've driven the I-80 between West Wendover and Reno at least once in our early marriage. In our early married years we used to stay in Las Vegas overnight on our way to and from Salt Lake for visits to family. We stayed multiple times at Circus Circus and at the Tropicana. For five years I attended a 3 day legal seminar in Las Vegas: In 1998 and 1999 I stayed at the Monte Carlo, in 2000 and 2001 at Caesar's Palace, and in 2004 at the Flamingo. In 2007 Judy took me to Caesar's Palace for my birthday to see Elton John who was performing there. In later years we've stopped when we were too tired to continue on to California. We've stayed at the Fremont and Mandalay Bay. We usually don't get out and walk around much, but we have visited the Bellagio and the Venetian and have eaten a number of times at the Paris. We've been to Hoover Dam and Lake Meade several times and Valley of Fire State Park and Great Basin National Park. I've been to Beaver Dam State Park several times, following the route that my great grandfather took to the goldfields in 1849, and have been through small towns like Carp, Elgin and Caliente and very remote paved and unpaved roads. I've driven Hwy 93 from I-15 to Crystal Springs and beyond and Hwy 168 between Moapa and Coyote Springs. I've driven Hwy 160 through Pahrump, Mountain Springs and Blue Diamond several times and visited Red Rock Canyon National Park. I climbed Boundary Peak, the tallest point in Nevada, not far off Hwy 6 near California. I've driven Hwy 6 between Ely, Tonopah and the California border and Hwy 50 between Ely and the Utah border.
We've driven the I-15 in southern Nevada between California and Arizona so many times that it seems like that is Nevada. We've driven the I-80 between West Wendover and Reno at least once in our early marriage. In our early married years we used to stay in Las Vegas overnight on our way to and from Salt Lake for visits to family. We stayed multiple times at Circus Circus and at the Tropicana. For five years I attended a 3 day legal seminar in Las Vegas: In 1998 and 1999 I stayed at the Monte Carlo, in 2000 and 2001 at Caesar's Palace, and in 2004 at the Flamingo. In 2007 Judy took me to Caesar's Palace for my birthday to see Elton John who was performing there. In later years we've stopped when we were too tired to continue on to California. We've stayed at the Fremont and Mandalay Bay. We usually don't get out and walk around much, but we have visited the Bellagio and the Venetian and have eaten a number of times at the Paris. We've been to Hoover Dam and Lake Meade several times and Valley of Fire State Park and Great Basin National Park. I've been to Beaver Dam State Park several times, following the route that my great grandfather took to the goldfields in 1849, and have been through small towns like Carp, Elgin and Caliente and very remote paved and unpaved roads. I've driven Hwy 93 from I-15 to Crystal Springs and beyond and Hwy 168 between Moapa and Coyote Springs. I've driven Hwy 160 through Pahrump, Mountain Springs and Blue Diamond several times and visited Red Rock Canyon National Park. I climbed Boundary Peak, the tallest point in Nevada, not far off Hwy 6 near California. I've driven Hwy 6 between Ely, Tonopah and the California border and Hwy 50 between Ely and the Utah border.
New Hampshire [Level 3]
In September 2011 we flew into Manchester and drove about 31 miles north on I-93 to Canterbury Shaker Village. Then we drove about 73 miles, much of it on I-89, northwest, to West Lebanon to look for the site of the Joseph Smith home that is no longer standing. Then we drove about 3 miles to Hanover and walked around the Dartmouth College campus. From there we drove into Vermont. Later in the trip we returned to New Hampshire from Waterford, Vermont to Franconia, and visited the Frost Place Museum. We drove 24 miles east and took the cog railway up to the top of Mt. Washington, the tallest point in New Hampshire. Then we drove 34 miles along the Kancamagus Hwy (Hwy 302) to North Conway where we spent the night. The next day, after spending some time back up the canyon we'd driven the day before, looking for moose, we traveled to Maine. Later, we came back into New Hampshire from Portsmouth, Maine and drove to Concord where we visited the New Hampshire Capitol Building and visited St. Paul's Episcopal Church across the street from it. Judy wanted to visit a quilt store in Henniker, 20 miles west, so we went and I ate while she shopped. In Manchester that evening we at the Nepalese Cafe MoMo, then spent the night before flying out the next morning.
New Jersey [Level 2]
In April 2016 we drove into Princeton for an unplanned visit and stopped at Trinity Episcopal Church, the Princeton Battle Monument and a brief walk on the Princeton University campus. Later, after leaving Manhattan, we drove from Fort Lee northwest up to High Point State Park, the high point of New Jersey, in the northern corner of the state. In May 2017 we drove into Trenton from Washington, D.C. and took a tour of the New Jersey State House, then visited the Trenton Battle Monument and had lunch at the Gyro Express. We drove northeast to Newark where we visited the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, the fifth largest cathedral in the U.S. We spent three nights at a hotel in Fort Lee, across the George Washington Bridge, from Manhattan. In July 2021 we entered into New Jersey from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania on I-80, then through Rockaway to I-280 through Parsippany Troy-Hills, West Orange, East Orange and Newark, then the Newark - Jersey City Turnpike across the Hackensack River, then across the Hudson River and into Manhattan through the Holland Tunnel.
New Mexico [Level 5]
In April 1989 our family took a trip through Arizona and New Mexico. We drove into Gallup from Arizona and spent a night. We headed east on I-40, then south to Acoma Pueblo. We drove north again to Albuquerque and visited the Rio Grande Zoo. We then drove northeast to Santa Fe where we spent the night. We headed north to Taos and visited Taos Pueblo, which was more commercial than Acoma. We did a little walking around, decided not to pay the entry fee to Kit Carson's home. Then we headed back toward Santa Fe. We ate traditional New Mexican cuisine in Espanola at Rancho Casados. In Santa Fe we visited the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assissi, then the Loretto Chapel with the "miracle staircase." We drove to Gallup and spent another night before going back into Arizona. In December 2018 (our second visit), our flight from Phoenix to El Paso was cancelled, so we rented a car and drove. We took the I-10 through southern New Mexico, stopping in Las Cruces to see a roadside roadrunner statue, then continued south to El Paso. In October 2020 (our third visit), we drove into Clayton from Oklahoma on Hwy 412. We spent the night in Clayton, then drove 56 miles north on Hwy 406 through Seneca to Kenton, Oklahoma, just over the border, then back to Clayton where we ate at the Santa Fe Trail Grill. Then we drove Hwy 87 northwest to visit Capulin Volcano NM, then up through Raton and into Colorado, about 89 miles. In June/July 2021 (our fourth visit), we rented a car in El Paso and drove I-25 up to Albuquerque where we spent the night, after stopping at Wal-Mart in Las Cruces for supplies; visits to Hatch, eating at Sparky's; Bosque Del Apache NWR where we drove both loops of the Auto Tour; and dinner at the Church Street Cafe in Old Town Albuquerque. The next morning we hiked in Boca Negra Canyon in Petroglyph NM in Albuquerque; stopped for a short visit at El Rancho de las Golondrinas outside Santa Fe; ate lunch at Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and the Loretto Chapel, did some shopping around the Plaza, all in Santa Fe; then drove to White Rock, about 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe, near Los Alamos, where we spent the next three nights. The next day we drove to Abiquiu where we visited Ghost Ranch and ate an early lunch at the Abiquiu Inn; drove to Taos and visited the Kit Carson Museum; the Taos Art Museum; the Harwood Museum of Art; the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge where we saw lots of bighorn sheep; drove to the base of Wheeler Peak in Taos Ski Valley; then back to White Rock for the night. The next morning we visited Bandelier NM, near our hotel in White Rock, and hiked the Main Loop Trail and Alcove House Trail; drove up into Valles Caldera National Preserve and drove much of the 13 miles across the caldera and back; drove into Los Alamos to visit a historical museum related to the Manhattan Project; ate Mexican food for dinner in Los Alamos and spent our last night in nearby White Rock. The next day I got up early and drove back to Valles Caldera to view elk and saw many of them. Back to our hotel, we drove into Santa Fe and stopped briefly to look at the Farmer's Market (and decided it wasn't worth a stop); visited the New Mexico State Capitol Building (known as the Roundhouse); the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; and the Museum of International Folk Art; then drove west of Santa Fe to Pecos National Historic Park where we walked the trail and visited the ruins; then drove to Las Vegas, NM where we ate a nice dinner at the Giant Skillet. After dinner we visited Hotel Castenada (a restored Fred Harvey hotel), drove a few miles north to Montezuma to see the restored Montezuma Hotel (also a restored Fred Harvey hotel that is on the American campus for United World College) - but weren't allowed to visit, then spent the night at a hotel in Las Vegas. I drove out to the Las Vegas NWR late that afternoon and turned around because the Auto Route was all mud due to rain. The next day we drove 179 miles south to Roswell where we visited the International UFO Museum and Research Center, ate a forgettable lunch at Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen; then drove outside of town and drove both sections of the Auto Route at Bitter Lake NWR; then drove 76 miles south to Carlsbad where we spent the night. We did drive 20 miles early evening to White's City hoping to see the bats flying out of Carlsbad Caverns, but learned that Carlsbad Caverns NP was closed due to flash flooding. The next morning we were out by 6:00 a.m. to drive to Guadalupe Mountain NP in Texas (cut short because of flash-flood closures); then returned to visit Carlsbad Caverns and found that the Walnut Canyon Desert Drive was closed because of flash-flood concerns; so ate a very mediocre lunch at Cactus Cafe in White's City to pass time before our timed entry into the cave; took the elevator up and down into Carlsbad Cavern and did the self-guided Big Room tour; then drove back to Guadalupe Mountain NP to McKittrick Canyon and hiked a short distance into the wash of the canyon; then we drove 87 miles north, past Carlsbad, to Artesia where we spent the night after a so-so dinner at Adobe Rose that had so much promise, but did not deliver. The next morning we drove 125 miles through the Sacramento Mountains along Hwy 82 to White Sands NP. We got stunning views of the white dunes along with the huge white clouds filling the sky. We drove back to Alamogordo to visit PistachioLand and buy some pistachios, then drove to Dripping Springs in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces where we started, but turned back from hiking to Dripping Springs because of threat of rain; checked into the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces for the night, then had a mediocre dinner at the restaurant Salud in Mesilla which fell short of its apparent promise. The next morning, we got up early to hike to Dripping Springs in the Organ Mountains and encountered four African gemsbok antelope; we drove back to the hotel to shower and check-out; got burritos for breakfast at a local fast-food Mexican restaurant; then followed a map to visit six different tanks with murals on them, before leaving New Mexico to drive back to El Paso to fly home. In November 2022 (our fifth visit) we flew into Albuquerque and stayed at a hotel near the airport. In the morning I spent about 2 1/2 hours at Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and saw two new birds. We met friends we'd not seen in 27 years for lunch at the Range Cafe in Bernalillo, then drove to Santa Fe. In the evening we ate at Rancho de Chimayo in Chimayo and stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe (for two nights). The next morning we had breakfast with our friends at Tortilla Flats, walked the jewelry and pottery shops in downtown, had a light lunch at the Plaza Cafe then had dinner at La Plazuela in the La Fonda (a restored Fred Harvey hotel) and had the best prime rib I've eaten in years. The next day we had a small plates lunch at La Boca Santa Fe, visited El Sanctuario de Chimayo Shrine, walked a bit of Canyon Road and ate dinner at Cafe Pasqual's. We drove to Albuquerque that evening and stayed in a hotel near the airport, then flew out the next morning.
In April 1989 our family took a trip through Arizona and New Mexico. We drove into Gallup from Arizona and spent a night. We headed east on I-40, then south to Acoma Pueblo. We drove north again to Albuquerque and visited the Rio Grande Zoo. We then drove northeast to Santa Fe where we spent the night. We headed north to Taos and visited Taos Pueblo, which was more commercial than Acoma. We did a little walking around, decided not to pay the entry fee to Kit Carson's home. Then we headed back toward Santa Fe. We ate traditional New Mexican cuisine in Espanola at Rancho Casados. In Santa Fe we visited the Cathedral of St. Francis of Assissi, then the Loretto Chapel with the "miracle staircase." We drove to Gallup and spent another night before going back into Arizona. In December 2018 (our second visit), our flight from Phoenix to El Paso was cancelled, so we rented a car and drove. We took the I-10 through southern New Mexico, stopping in Las Cruces to see a roadside roadrunner statue, then continued south to El Paso. In October 2020 (our third visit), we drove into Clayton from Oklahoma on Hwy 412. We spent the night in Clayton, then drove 56 miles north on Hwy 406 through Seneca to Kenton, Oklahoma, just over the border, then back to Clayton where we ate at the Santa Fe Trail Grill. Then we drove Hwy 87 northwest to visit Capulin Volcano NM, then up through Raton and into Colorado, about 89 miles. In June/July 2021 (our fourth visit), we rented a car in El Paso and drove I-25 up to Albuquerque where we spent the night, after stopping at Wal-Mart in Las Cruces for supplies; visits to Hatch, eating at Sparky's; Bosque Del Apache NWR where we drove both loops of the Auto Tour; and dinner at the Church Street Cafe in Old Town Albuquerque. The next morning we hiked in Boca Negra Canyon in Petroglyph NM in Albuquerque; stopped for a short visit at El Rancho de las Golondrinas outside Santa Fe; ate lunch at Maria's New Mexican Kitchen, visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and the Loretto Chapel, did some shopping around the Plaza, all in Santa Fe; then drove to White Rock, about 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe, near Los Alamos, where we spent the next three nights. The next day we drove to Abiquiu where we visited Ghost Ranch and ate an early lunch at the Abiquiu Inn; drove to Taos and visited the Kit Carson Museum; the Taos Art Museum; the Harwood Museum of Art; the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge where we saw lots of bighorn sheep; drove to the base of Wheeler Peak in Taos Ski Valley; then back to White Rock for the night. The next morning we visited Bandelier NM, near our hotel in White Rock, and hiked the Main Loop Trail and Alcove House Trail; drove up into Valles Caldera National Preserve and drove much of the 13 miles across the caldera and back; drove into Los Alamos to visit a historical museum related to the Manhattan Project; ate Mexican food for dinner in Los Alamos and spent our last night in nearby White Rock. The next day I got up early and drove back to Valles Caldera to view elk and saw many of them. Back to our hotel, we drove into Santa Fe and stopped briefly to look at the Farmer's Market (and decided it wasn't worth a stop); visited the New Mexico State Capitol Building (known as the Roundhouse); the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi; and the Museum of International Folk Art; then drove west of Santa Fe to Pecos National Historic Park where we walked the trail and visited the ruins; then drove to Las Vegas, NM where we ate a nice dinner at the Giant Skillet. After dinner we visited Hotel Castenada (a restored Fred Harvey hotel), drove a few miles north to Montezuma to see the restored Montezuma Hotel (also a restored Fred Harvey hotel that is on the American campus for United World College) - but weren't allowed to visit, then spent the night at a hotel in Las Vegas. I drove out to the Las Vegas NWR late that afternoon and turned around because the Auto Route was all mud due to rain. The next day we drove 179 miles south to Roswell where we visited the International UFO Museum and Research Center, ate a forgettable lunch at Los Cerritos Mexican Kitchen; then drove outside of town and drove both sections of the Auto Route at Bitter Lake NWR; then drove 76 miles south to Carlsbad where we spent the night. We did drive 20 miles early evening to White's City hoping to see the bats flying out of Carlsbad Caverns, but learned that Carlsbad Caverns NP was closed due to flash flooding. The next morning we were out by 6:00 a.m. to drive to Guadalupe Mountain NP in Texas (cut short because of flash-flood closures); then returned to visit Carlsbad Caverns and found that the Walnut Canyon Desert Drive was closed because of flash-flood concerns; so ate a very mediocre lunch at Cactus Cafe in White's City to pass time before our timed entry into the cave; took the elevator up and down into Carlsbad Cavern and did the self-guided Big Room tour; then drove back to Guadalupe Mountain NP to McKittrick Canyon and hiked a short distance into the wash of the canyon; then we drove 87 miles north, past Carlsbad, to Artesia where we spent the night after a so-so dinner at Adobe Rose that had so much promise, but did not deliver. The next morning we drove 125 miles through the Sacramento Mountains along Hwy 82 to White Sands NP. We got stunning views of the white dunes along with the huge white clouds filling the sky. We drove back to Alamogordo to visit PistachioLand and buy some pistachios, then drove to Dripping Springs in the Organ Mountains east of Las Cruces where we started, but turned back from hiking to Dripping Springs because of threat of rain; checked into the Hotel Encanto in Las Cruces for the night, then had a mediocre dinner at the restaurant Salud in Mesilla which fell short of its apparent promise. The next morning, we got up early to hike to Dripping Springs in the Organ Mountains and encountered four African gemsbok antelope; we drove back to the hotel to shower and check-out; got burritos for breakfast at a local fast-food Mexican restaurant; then followed a map to visit six different tanks with murals on them, before leaving New Mexico to drive back to El Paso to fly home. In November 2022 (our fifth visit) we flew into Albuquerque and stayed at a hotel near the airport. In the morning I spent about 2 1/2 hours at Rio Grande Nature Center State Park and saw two new birds. We met friends we'd not seen in 27 years for lunch at the Range Cafe in Bernalillo, then drove to Santa Fe. In the evening we ate at Rancho de Chimayo in Chimayo and stayed at the Drury Plaza Hotel in Santa Fe (for two nights). The next morning we had breakfast with our friends at Tortilla Flats, walked the jewelry and pottery shops in downtown, had a light lunch at the Plaza Cafe then had dinner at La Plazuela in the La Fonda (a restored Fred Harvey hotel) and had the best prime rib I've eaten in years. The next day we had a small plates lunch at La Boca Santa Fe, visited El Sanctuario de Chimayo Shrine, walked a bit of Canyon Road and ate dinner at Cafe Pasqual's. We drove to Albuquerque that evening and stayed in a hotel near the airport, then flew out the next morning.
New York [Level 5]
We've been to New York eight times. In March 2003 we visited the outside of the New York Stock Exchange, Federal Hall National Monument, Trinity Church, Ground Zero (less than two years after 9/11), took the Staten Island Ferry to and back, Greenwich Village, including Washington Square and New York University, Chinatown, Times Square, Cloisters in Fort Tryon Park, NBC Studio Tour in Rockefeller Center, St. Thomas Church, Metropolitan Museum of Art, LDS Sacrament meeting at the Lincoln Center and saw Lavelle Edwards and Robert Wells, the play "Les Miserables" at the Imperial Theater, and the Empire State Building (up to the 86th floor). Later on the same trip, in April 2003, we drove from Harmony, PA north 98 miles on I-81 to Fayette, then 55 miles west through the Finger Lakes to Waterloo where we visited the Whitmer Farm, then 27 miles west to Farmington where we spent the night. We drove 9 miles northeast to Palmyra and visited the Martin Harris Farm, the Grandin Building, the original homesite of Joseph Smith, Sr., the Sacred Grove, the Hill Cumorah Visitor's Center, and a session at the Palmyra LDS Temple. We spent another night in Farmington. The next morning we drove 13 miles to Mendon, after an ice storm, and saw various places in the neighborhood where Brigham Young lived. From Mendon, we drove west about 80 miles to the vicinity of Buffalo, then about 65 miles southwest along Lake Erie on the I-90 to the Pennsylvania state line. Later on the trip we returned back the same route along Lake Erie through Buffalo to Niagara Falls where we spent two nights. We flew home out of the Buffalo airport. In March 2011, our 2nd visit, we flew into New York to visit my sister-in-law, Mary, who was serving an LDS mission there. She introduced us to Shake Shack for the first time, we saw the play "Driving Miss Daisy" with Vanessa Redgrave and James Earl Jones at the Golden Theater. We walked the Columbia University campus, visited the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and Trinity Church and the Museum of Modern Art. In April 2016, our 3rd visit, we had breakfast in Harlem at Red Rooster, visited Grant's Tomb, the Riverside Church, walked the Columbia University campus, visited St. Patrick's Cathedral, ate at Joe's Shanghai in Chinatown and walked Little Italy. The next day we walked the length of Central Park, visited the Neue Gallery and the Guggenheim Museum. Later, after leaving High Point Park in New Jersey, we took I-84 northeast to the Hudson River, then north up Hwy 9W to Poughkeepsie, then to Hyde Park. We visited the home of Franklin D. Roosevelt, then Val-kill, the cottage of Eleanor Roosevelt, then back to the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. Then we drove north, following the Hudson River, to Albany, where we spent the night. The next morning we visited the New York State Capitol Building, All Saint Episcopal Cathedral, then had lunch at an Indian buffet at Aashiana. From there, we drove south, on the other side of the Hudson, to Valhalla, just north of White Plains, where we visited the Kensico Cemetery. From there we drove 36 miles to JFK for our flight home. In May 2017, our 4th visit, we attended Andrew's graduation from Columbia University, which included a reception for parents and the graduation ceremony on campus. We had meals at Kirsh Bakery and Kitchen, Floridita Bar Restaurant and Malaysia Grill, visited the Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, and visited Sagamore Hill, Theodore Roosevelt's Summer Whitehouse, at Oyster Bay on Long Island. In January 2018, our 5th visit, we flew into JFK in freezing cold weather, about 15 degrees outside, and took Lyft to our airbnb apartment in The Bronx where we spent three nights. Over the next few days we got around by subway, visiting the 9/11 Memorial Museum, eating chopped cheese at local shops, eating at Mission Chinese Food in Chinatown, Fu Run and White Bear in Flushing (part of Queens), the biggest Chinatown in the U.S., Archie's Bar & Pizza in Brooklyn, and Russ & Daughters, Katz's Delicatessen and the Grand Central Oyster Bar in Manhattan. We also visited Andrew's studio in Yonkers. In February 2020, our 6th visit, we stayed in Long Island City, part of Queens. We took the subway to Flushing and ate at Dumpling Galaxy, back to Long Island City to see Andrew's exhibit at the Sculpture-Center, then went To Kill a Mockingbird at the Shubert Theater. The next day we ate at Katz's Deli then went to Hamilton at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Afterwards we ate at Java Indonesian Restaurant in the South Slope of Brooklyn. The next day we rented a car and drove to Long Island, down the Meadowbrook State Parkway to Jones Beach Island and followed the Ocean Parkway to Robert Moses Parkway and up to Bay Shore where we ate at Lake House. Then we followed the Sunrise Hwy (Rte 27) out to the east end of Long Island, through the Hamptons, to the Montauk Lighthouse, which was closed, but Andrew and I walked around it just off the ocean. We drove back out, then veered off to Sag Harbor, then to the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill. Then we drove our rental car back to Manhattan. Our last day we took the subway back to Flushing and ate at Castle Bear and First Lamb Shabu, then back to our hotel for a Lyft ride to JFK and a flight home. Our seventh visit, in July 2021, we spent two nights in Chinatown. Our first day we visited the Bronx Zoo and ate at Jajaja Plantas Mexicana in Chinatown. The second day we ate breakfast at Factory Tamal in Chinatown and walked down to the East River near the Manhattan Bridge. We took the subway to Long Island City in Queens to visit MoMA PS1 and ate at Mina's. Then the subway to Green-Wood Cemetery near South Slope, Brooklyn, then ate dinner at HanGawi (vegetarian Korean) Restaurant in Midtown. The third day we rented a car at JFK and drove north to the Catskills where we spent two nights at an Airbnb in Kingston. The third day we visited Storm King Art Center in New Windsor and traveled around it on rented bikes, visited the Thomas Cole National Historic Site in Catskill, then the outside of the nearby Frederic Church home at the Olana State Historic Site in Hudson, then ate dinner at Peekamoose Restaurant in Big Indian. The fourth day we hiked to Kaaterskill Falls, near Hunter, from Scutt Road and hunted mushrooms, then had a home-made mushroom dinner cooked by Andrew and Michaela. The fifth day we drove to Bethel and visited Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, where Woodstock took place in 1969, then drove to Horseheads where we stayed for three nights, before eating dinner at El Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Watkins Glen. The sixth day we drove northwest to Letchworth State Park and visited the Middle, Lower and Upper Falls and ate lunch at Caroline's at the Glen Iris Inn near Middle Falls. Andrew and Michaela cooked a dinner of mushroom tacos that night. Day seven I left the hotel at 4:15 a.m. to visit Montezuma NWR at the north end of Cayuga Lake near Seneca Falls. I was back by 9:00 a.m. and we visited Watkins Glen State Park at the bottom end of Seneca Lake. We parked the car at the upper end of the Gorge Trail and followed a 2 mile trail along Glen Creek to the bottom where we took a shuttle back up to the car. Then we drove to Ithaca and ate at Maru Ramen, then visited the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and walked the Wilson Trail through Sapsucker Woods. We drove to the Cornell main campus, then to the Fischer old-growth forest near Newfield, owned by Cornell, and took a 1 to 2 mile walk through the forest. We ate dinner at Garcia's Mexican Restaurant in Horseheads. Day eight we drove back to Manhattan, through Binghamton, then Pennsylvania and New Jersey, through the Holland Tunnel to Manhattan where we dropped off Andrew and Michaela in Chinatown and drove through rush-hour traffic to JFK. Our eighth visit was in May 2023. Our first day we flew in on a redeye and arrived at 8:00 a.m. We visited Chelsea Market and had wonderful food at Miznon. We took a 3 hour Manhattan Architecture Yacht Cruise around Manhattan with commentary from an architect. We stayed all three nights at World Center Hotel near the World Trade Center in Manhattan and primarily got around by subway. The next day we took a 3 hour bird walk in the North Woods of Central Park with Deborah Allen and about 30 others, a fill-in for Birding Bob. I saw 8 birds I'd not seen before, primarily migrating warblers. Afterwards we ate at Mamoun's Falafel, then visited the American Museum of Natural History, followed by Judy's stop at Levain Bakery for chocolate chip cookies. Afterwards we toured Donald Judd's New York Home and Studio, a gift from Andrew and Michaela for Judy. That night we met up with Andrew and Michaela at Cadence for a highi-end vegan meal, including a particularly good lasagna dish. Our third day we walked in the area of the Lincoln Center, including a stop at the Julliard bookstore, then visited the Metropolitan Opera where we saw Aida with Andrew and Michaela (four hours and three intermissions). Afterwards we took the subway to Chinatown and had dinner with Andrew and Michaela at Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian. We had really good veggie lamb and Szechuan dishes. Our fourth day we had a delicious Mother's Day Brunch prepared by Michaela and Andrew with home-made ramps pesto, hummus, baba ganoush and shakshuka. We took the subway with Andrew over to the Little Island, a new public park over the water, then visited the Whitney Museum of American Art to see the Josh Kline "Project for a New American Century" that Andrew was the lead in putting together. We had a fiasco on the subway, then Lyft, getting to JFK, and barely made our flight back to Ontario.
North Carolina [Level 2]
I've been to North Carolina twice. In 2013 we flew into the Charlotte Airport and rented a car and drove south into South Carolina and Georgia. On the way back we stopped at the Billy Graham Library and Home before flying out of Charlotte airport. In 2024 I flew into Charlotte with the intent of renting a car and driving to Chapel Hill. My driver's license had just expired, so I had to take a Lyft ride to Chapel Hill, to meet up with my son Sam, who lives there, and my son Andrew who was visiting. The first day we spent the morning hiking the Saxapawhaw Island Trail along the Haw River (west of Chapel Hill). We ate lunch at Hillsborough BBQ Company (northwest of Chapel Hill), then hiked what I believe was the Cox Mountain Trail in Eno River State Park, east of Hillsborough and northwest of Durham. I stayed the night at Woodspring Suites in Apex, southwest of Raleigh. The next day Sam drove us over 3 hours to hike the Patsy Pond Trail, near Newport, the Atlantic Coast and the Bogue Sound. Then we drove a gravel road nearby, called Pringle Road in the Croatan National Forest, and stopped in several places to hike, looking for Venus flytraps and pitcher plants. We spent the night at Red Roof Inn & Suites in Jacksonville, NC. The next day we did some more hiking in the same area, then finished by driving to Emerald Isle, one of the Outer Bank islands, and stopped at Emerald Isle Beach where Sam and Andrew took a quick swim. We drove back to Chapel Hill, for Andrew to get his belongings, then took Andrew to the airport in Durham. I stayed the night with Sam in Chapel Hill. In the morning I followed him around on his work route as an arborist, then we ate lunch in Chapel Hill and visited the bookstore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I took a Lyft to Charlotte airport, where I missed my flight that day, had the flight cancelled the next day (spending both nights in Fort Mill, SC), and then finally got a flight out on the third day. What time was spent in Fort Mill was spent in the Charlotte Airport. I covered quite a bit of ground in North Carolina, but did not spend much time in any major cities which is why I've limited it to a Level 2.
North Dakota [Level 2]
North Dakota was our 50th state and apparently we are not alone in making it our 50th state. We flew into Bismarck on the evening of September 12, 2019 as part of our 40th anniversary celebration. We ate a late dinner at Pirogue Grille in Bismarck and spent the night in Bismarck at the Sleep Inn. The next morning, our anniversary, we drove Hwy 83 north and northwest 40 miles out to Washburn and visited the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, then the Fort Mandan Historic Site. We continued on Hwy 200 23 miles, past Stanton, where we visited the Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site and drove to and hiked the trail to the site of the village of Sacagawea and also to the site of the Hidatsa village. On the way back to Bismarck, along very rural roads (I believe we took a road south of Hensler which eventually turned into Hwy 25) I was pulled over for speeding relatively near I-94. The very nice policeman gave me a warning and recommended, when we asked, that we eat at Bennigan's in Mandan, just outside of Bismarck. We had a late lunch, then drove into Bismarck and visited the capitol building, including an elevator ride up to the observation deck, then into downtown and walked the Downtowners Street Fair which was going on for the 45th year. After another night in Bismarck we headed west on I-94 for 90 miles to Gladstone where we took the Enchanted Highway south for 32 miles to Regent, enjoying seven enormous scrap metal roadside sculptures along the way. In Regent we ate at a small cafe and met Gary Greff, the artist and entrepreneur who conceived and built the scrap metal sculptures. From Regent we took Hwy 21 west to Hwy 22, then north to the town of New England, then west on Hwy 21 where we took a crazy dirt road, as directed by Google Maps, to Hwy 85 to Amidon, then south on Hwy 85 where we were looking to hike White Butte, the tallest point in North Dakota. After a closed road and getting directions several times, we ended up at the White Butte trailhead and hiked the 3.4 miles round trip to the top in about 1.5 hours. We eventually found our way back to Hwy 85 north to Belfield, then took I-94 west to Medora where we ate at Theodore's in Medora. Then we took I-94 east for 37 miles to Dickinson where we spent the night at Hawthorn Suites. Sunday morning we attended Sacrament Meeting in Dickinson, then drove I-94 west to Belfield, then took Hwy 85 north for about 48 miles to the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We drove the the 14 mile road in the park out and back, seeing lots of bison. Then we drove south on Hwy 85 to Belfield and took I-94 west to Medora where we ate a late lunch/early dinner at Little Missouri Dining Room and Saloon. Then we entered the south unit of Theodore Roosevelt NP and drove the Scenic Loop Drive (which is closed off 26 miles out) out and back the same way, covering about 60 or 65 miles. We then spent another night in Dickinson. Monday morning I got up early and drove to Theodore Roosevelt NP in Medora and drove the Scenic Loop Drive again. Afterwards, I drove the I-94 east to Belfield and took Hwy 85 north to the first sign indicating a dirt road west into the Little Missouri National Grassland, part of the Dakota Prairie Grasslands. I drove in 20 miles, finally seeing a couple of pronghorn antelope, then turned around and took the same way back out, then drove back to Dickinson to pick up Judy. We drove the I-94 east back to Bismarck where we visited the North Dakota Heritage Center, near the capitol building, ate lunch at Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews, then caught a flight back home.
Ohio [Level 1]
In April 2003 we drove about 50 miles along I-90 and Lake Erie from the Pennsylvia state line to Kirtland. We visited the Kirtland Visitors Center, the Newel Whitney home and store, the Isaac Morley farm, and the Kirtland Temple. We traveled about 42 miles southeast to the vicinity of Hiram and visited the John Johnson home. After spending two nights near Kirtland, we drove back the way we came in. We have been to Cincinnati several times on air-flight layovers.
Oklahoma [Level 3]
In December 2014 we drove from Arkansas west on I-40 into Oklahoma City where we visited St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and ate at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, then spent the night. The next morning we visited the Oklahoma Capitol Building, then drove to Norman where we ate at Earth Cafe & Deli and walked the University of Oklahoma campus, including the outside of the football stadium. Afterwards we drove south on the I-35 to Dallas. In October 2020 we drove from Elkhart, Kansas southwest through the panhandle of Oklahoma on Hwys 56 and 412, through Sturgis, Keyes, Boise City and Felt, to Clayton, New Mexico. The next morning we drove from Clayton up to Kenton, Oklahoma, in the far northwestern part of the panhandle, and hiked to the top of Black Mesa, an 8.4 mile roundtrip hike to the high point of Oklahoma.
In December 2014 we drove from Arkansas west on I-40 into Oklahoma City where we visited St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral, the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the Oklahoma City National Memorial and ate at Cattlemen's Steakhouse, then spent the night. The next morning we visited the Oklahoma Capitol Building, then drove to Norman where we ate at Earth Cafe & Deli and walked the University of Oklahoma campus, including the outside of the football stadium. Afterwards we drove south on the I-35 to Dallas. In October 2020 we drove from Elkhart, Kansas southwest through the panhandle of Oklahoma on Hwys 56 and 412, through Sturgis, Keyes, Boise City and Felt, to Clayton, New Mexico. The next morning we drove from Clayton up to Kenton, Oklahoma, in the far northwestern part of the panhandle, and hiked to the top of Black Mesa, an 8.4 mile roundtrip hike to the high point of Oklahoma.
Oregon [Level 4]
In January 2016 we flew to Portland, then drove to the LDS Temple and walked around. We drove south on the I-5 to the Willamette Valley and toured the Oregon Capitol Building in Salem and walked the Willamette College campus, including the School of Law that I considered going to. We continued south on I-5 to Eugene where we stopped at the University of Oregon football stadium and I walked in and stood on the AstroTurf field. We drove west on Hwy 126 to Florence, on the coast, then headed north on the Hwy 101 coastal road to Newport where we stayed at the Sylvia Beach Hotel that had rooms decorated for various literary figures. We ate at the Deep End Cafe in Nye Beach. We drove into downtown Newport, in the harbor, and had clam chowder and smoked fish. We also watched sea lions cavorting around the pier. We drove out to Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and walked along a wonderful pebble beach. We continued north on Hwy 101 and stopped at Barnacle Bill's in Lincoln City. We got fresh lump dungeness crab meat, spicy boiled large shrimp and small Oregon pink shrimp as well as some smoked salmon. We continued north and stopped in Tillamook where we had wonderful ice cream at the Tillamook Creamery. We spent the night in Seaside. The next morning we drove a little south and visited Cannon Beach, then up into Ecola State Park. For lunch we stopped at Pacific Way Cafe in Gearhart and then north to Fort Stevens State Park where we got amazing views of the tremendous Columbia River Gorge as the Columbia River entered into the Pacific Ocean. We drove through Astoria then stayed on Hwy 30 along the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, took a quick trip into Vancouver, Washington, then drove along the Washington side of the Columbia River until Cascade Locks when we crossed back over. We continued on to The Dalles where we ate at Cousin's and spent the night. We started west back along the Columbia River Gorge. We took Hwy 35 south up into Mt. Hood National Forest, wanting to get a good view of Mt. Hood, but snow started to stick on the road and we decided we needed to turn back. We got back to the Columbia River Gorge and stopped to look at several waterfalls, but particularly Multnomah Falls. We stayed the night in Portland. We visited St. James Lutheran Church and ate at several food carts, including some Moroccan food. We flew home out of Portland that evening. In September 2020 we flew into Medford, rented a car and drove north on the I-5 to Grant's Pass, then south on Hwy 199 through Cave Junction to the California border. We connected to Hwy 101 in California and then drove north along the Oregon coast. We ate lunch in Brookings at Off The Wagon food truck, then continued north through the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, with stops at Lone Ranch Beach, House Rock, Natural Bridge, Arch Rock and then past the corridor, Pistol River. We spent the night in Gold Beach at the Pacific Reef Hotel. The next morning we drove back to Lone Ranch Beach and spent quite a while, then continued north again. We stopped in Port Orford for lunch at the Crazy Norwegian's Fish & Chips and continued on through Bandon to Coos Bay, where we stopped at Face Rock. Instead of checking our itinerary and map and continuing on to Reedsport, I was thinking Reedsport was right next to Coos Bay and had Judy put our hotel in Sutherlin into Google Maps. The result was we took a route south on Hwy 42 through Coquille, Myrtle Point, Bridge, Camas Valley and Winston. where we saw billboards for Wildlife Safari and drove to it. It was just closing, so we decided to come back the next day and visit. We continued on through Roseburg and up to Sutherlin where we stayed at the Best Western Plus Hartford Lodge. The next morning we drove back to Winston and spent several hours at Wildlife Safari which we really enjoyed and I was glad I'd made the logistics error the day before. Then we drove back up through Roseburg and took Hwy 138 through Glide and through the Umpqua NF. Near Clearwater, we stopped and took a short hike to the beautiful Toketee Falls. We then took another short stop at Diamond Lake before continuing on to Crater Lake NP, where we went in the north entrance. A nearby fire was creating so much smoke that we could hardly see the water or the other side of the crater and it was crammed with Labor Day traffic. So we continued south along the west end of the crater and left until we connected to Hwy 62 and continued south to Hwy 97 and eventually to Klamath Falls where we spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Klamath. We had a nice dinner at Thai Orchid Cafe. The next morning we drove south into California, then returned north along a circuitous mountain route along Keno Worden Road, Clover Creek Road and Dead Indian Memorial Road to Ashland where we stayed at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites and ate at burritos. The next morning we drove through Talent and Phoenix to Medford where we caught a flight back home. Just a day or two later, terrible fires started in Oregon, including fires that destroyed much of Talent and Phoenix.
In January 2016 we flew to Portland, then drove to the LDS Temple and walked around. We drove south on the I-5 to the Willamette Valley and toured the Oregon Capitol Building in Salem and walked the Willamette College campus, including the School of Law that I considered going to. We continued south on I-5 to Eugene where we stopped at the University of Oregon football stadium and I walked in and stood on the AstroTurf field. We drove west on Hwy 126 to Florence, on the coast, then headed north on the Hwy 101 coastal road to Newport where we stayed at the Sylvia Beach Hotel that had rooms decorated for various literary figures. We ate at the Deep End Cafe in Nye Beach. We drove into downtown Newport, in the harbor, and had clam chowder and smoked fish. We also watched sea lions cavorting around the pier. We drove out to Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area and walked along a wonderful pebble beach. We continued north on Hwy 101 and stopped at Barnacle Bill's in Lincoln City. We got fresh lump dungeness crab meat, spicy boiled large shrimp and small Oregon pink shrimp as well as some smoked salmon. We continued north and stopped in Tillamook where we had wonderful ice cream at the Tillamook Creamery. We spent the night in Seaside. The next morning we drove a little south and visited Cannon Beach, then up into Ecola State Park. For lunch we stopped at Pacific Way Cafe in Gearhart and then north to Fort Stevens State Park where we got amazing views of the tremendous Columbia River Gorge as the Columbia River entered into the Pacific Ocean. We drove through Astoria then stayed on Hwy 30 along the Oregon side of the Columbia River Gorge, took a quick trip into Vancouver, Washington, then drove along the Washington side of the Columbia River until Cascade Locks when we crossed back over. We continued on to The Dalles where we ate at Cousin's and spent the night. We started west back along the Columbia River Gorge. We took Hwy 35 south up into Mt. Hood National Forest, wanting to get a good view of Mt. Hood, but snow started to stick on the road and we decided we needed to turn back. We got back to the Columbia River Gorge and stopped to look at several waterfalls, but particularly Multnomah Falls. We stayed the night in Portland. We visited St. James Lutheran Church and ate at several food carts, including some Moroccan food. We flew home out of Portland that evening. In September 2020 we flew into Medford, rented a car and drove north on the I-5 to Grant's Pass, then south on Hwy 199 through Cave Junction to the California border. We connected to Hwy 101 in California and then drove north along the Oregon coast. We ate lunch in Brookings at Off The Wagon food truck, then continued north through the Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor, with stops at Lone Ranch Beach, House Rock, Natural Bridge, Arch Rock and then past the corridor, Pistol River. We spent the night in Gold Beach at the Pacific Reef Hotel. The next morning we drove back to Lone Ranch Beach and spent quite a while, then continued north again. We stopped in Port Orford for lunch at the Crazy Norwegian's Fish & Chips and continued on through Bandon to Coos Bay, where we stopped at Face Rock. Instead of checking our itinerary and map and continuing on to Reedsport, I was thinking Reedsport was right next to Coos Bay and had Judy put our hotel in Sutherlin into Google Maps. The result was we took a route south on Hwy 42 through Coquille, Myrtle Point, Bridge, Camas Valley and Winston. where we saw billboards for Wildlife Safari and drove to it. It was just closing, so we decided to come back the next day and visit. We continued on through Roseburg and up to Sutherlin where we stayed at the Best Western Plus Hartford Lodge. The next morning we drove back to Winston and spent several hours at Wildlife Safari which we really enjoyed and I was glad I'd made the logistics error the day before. Then we drove back up through Roseburg and took Hwy 138 through Glide and through the Umpqua NF. Near Clearwater, we stopped and took a short hike to the beautiful Toketee Falls. We then took another short stop at Diamond Lake before continuing on to Crater Lake NP, where we went in the north entrance. A nearby fire was creating so much smoke that we could hardly see the water or the other side of the crater and it was crammed with Labor Day traffic. So we continued south along the west end of the crater and left until we connected to Hwy 62 and continued south to Hwy 97 and eventually to Klamath Falls where we spent the night at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Klamath. We had a nice dinner at Thai Orchid Cafe. The next morning we drove south into California, then returned north along a circuitous mountain route along Keno Worden Road, Clover Creek Road and Dead Indian Memorial Road to Ashland where we stayed at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites and ate at burritos. The next morning we drove through Talent and Phoenix to Medford where we caught a flight back home. Just a day or two later, terrible fires started in Oregon, including fires that destroyed much of Talent and Phoenix.
Pennsylvania [Level 2]
March 2003, we drove to Philadelphia from Manhattan. We visited Independence Hall, Liberty Bell Pavilion, Congress Hall, Christ Church, B. Free Franklin Post Office and Museum, Liberty Plaza, Benjamin Franklin Museum, Carpenter's Hall, the Masonic Temple and spent one night. We drove to Valley Forge and drove through it. We drove north 108 miles to Wilkes-Barre where we spent the night. In April 2003 we drove north 74 miles to Oakland, formerly Harmony, where we saw the Susquehanna River and the area where Joseph Smith worked on the Book of Mormon. From there we drove north into New York. Later in the trip we drove approximately 46 miles on I-90 along Lake Erie along the northwest border of Pennsylvania, then later took the same route back again. In July 2021 we entered Pennsylvania from New York on I-81 southeast of Binghamton, south to Scranton, then southeast to Big Pocono State Park, west of Tannersville, then on I-80 to Stroudsburg where we ate at The Cure Cafe, then shortly thereafter into New Jersey.
Rhode Island [Level 1]
I have the least breadth in Rhode Island of any state I've visited. In March 2011 we drove from Connecticut on the I-95 northeast up through Providence to Massachusetts, where we then took Hwy 44 east to Plymouth. We did not stop or get out of the car in Rhode Island.
South Carolina [Level 3]
I've been to South Carolina three times, in March 2013, December 2023 and May 2024. In 2013 we drove from Charlotte, NC to Columbia, then down to Charleston where we spent two nights. We visited Cypress Gardens where we took out a row boat, had nice meals at Hominy Grill and FIG, took an evening ghost tour, a carriage ride, a boat ride out to Fort Sumter, and visited the Old Slave Mart Museum, a historical house and a number of churches. Then we drove to Savannah, GA, stopping at Carolina Cider Company in Yemassee on the way. On the way back to Charlotte we stopped in Columbia for lunch at Lamb's Bread Vegan Cafe and saw the capitol from a distance. In 2023 we spent Christmas with our family in the Charleston area. We flew into Charleston and rented a large Airbnb in North Charleston for four nights. We hiked several miles of the Palmetto Trail: Swamp Fox Segment in the Francis Marion NF. We took a family picture in Charles Towne Landing NHP and spent time walking around the beautiful ponds. We had a lunch and dinner in downtown Charleston at a Vietnamese and a chicken restaurant. We walked through downtown and visited the graveyard of St. Philip's Church, across from the Gibbes Museum of Art which we also visited (I spent much less time there than other family members). Judy spent half a night and morning in the emergency room of the Medical University of South Carolina. Judy and I had a wonderful lunch at the Crab Shack, which included she-crab soup, the best soup I've ever eaten. We also walked around the large pond at Quarterman Park in North Charleston. In May 2024, I had to spend two days waiting for flights out of Charlotte Airport in North Carolina. I stayed two nights in Fort Mill, just over the border in South Carolina. The first night I ate dinner with my brother, Chris, at The Improper Pig, and stayed at Holiday Inn Express & Suites. The second night I stayed at Best Western.
South Dakota [Level 2]
In September 2014 we flew into Rapid City, then spent time at Reptile Garden and Mount Rushmore, then drove Iron Mountain Road into Custer State Park where we drove the Wildlife Loop Road. We ate at Blue Bell Lodge and stayed the night in Custer. In the morning we drove into Custer State Park for wildlife viewing, then drove the Needles Hwy to Sylvan Lake where we hiked seven miles round trip to Harney Peak, the high point of South Dakota. We stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial on the way back to Custer where we showered, then drove back to Sylvan Lake to eat at the Sylvan Lake Lodge. We spent another night in Custer. In the morning I got up early, leaving Judy to sleep, and drove into Custer State Park for wildlife viewing. We then drove back to Rapid City where we attended an LDS ward for an hour, then drove east to Wall and visited the Wall Drug Store. Then we drove southeast deep into Badlands NP and came back to spend the night in Wall. The next morning we drove back into Badlands NP, following the Sage Creek Rim Road, northwest, then southwest, then out at Scenic and followed Hwy 33 northwest back to Rapid City. We ate a Nepalese buffet at Everest Cuisine before going to the airport for our flight home.
In September 2014 we flew into Rapid City, then spent time at Reptile Garden and Mount Rushmore, then drove Iron Mountain Road into Custer State Park where we drove the Wildlife Loop Road. We ate at Blue Bell Lodge and stayed the night in Custer. In the morning we drove into Custer State Park for wildlife viewing, then drove the Needles Hwy to Sylvan Lake where we hiked seven miles round trip to Harney Peak, the high point of South Dakota. We stopped at the Crazy Horse Memorial on the way back to Custer where we showered, then drove back to Sylvan Lake to eat at the Sylvan Lake Lodge. We spent another night in Custer. In the morning I got up early, leaving Judy to sleep, and drove into Custer State Park for wildlife viewing. We then drove back to Rapid City where we attended an LDS ward for an hour, then drove east to Wall and visited the Wall Drug Store. Then we drove southeast deep into Badlands NP and came back to spend the night in Wall. The next morning we drove back into Badlands NP, following the Sage Creek Rim Road, northwest, then southwest, then out at Scenic and followed Hwy 33 northwest back to Rapid City. We ate a Nepalese buffet at Everest Cuisine before going to the airport for our flight home.
Tennessee [Level 2]
Our daughter lived in Memphis and we visited her three times. We visited Beale Street several times and ate at BB Kings House of Blues. We ate wonderful barbecue at Corky's, Commisary and Rendezvous. We visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. We visited the Peabody Motel and saw the famous ducks. We traveled east and visited the Shiloh Civil War Battlefield next to the Tennessee River.
Our daughter lived in Memphis and we visited her three times. We visited Beale Street several times and ate at BB Kings House of Blues. We ate wonderful barbecue at Corky's, Commisary and Rendezvous. We visited the National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. We visited the Peabody Motel and saw the famous ducks. We traveled east and visited the Shiloh Civil War Battlefield next to the Tennessee River.
Texas [Level 5]
Aside from layovers at Dallas/Fort Worth Airport, I've made seven trips to Texas and covered lots of ground. The first trip was to southern Texas in 2012 where we flew into San Antonio and immediately visited the Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion. Then it was southeast to Adkins where we ate at Texas Pride Barbecue. We spent the night in San Antonio and took the River Walk before bed. The next day we visited San Fernando Cathedral, the Mission San Juan Capistrano and the Alamo. We took a food tour and visited Augies Barbed Wire Smoke House, Frosted Delights by Joyce, Blue Star Brewing Co., Luther's Cafe and Joseph's Storehouse Restaurant and Bakery. We spent the night in San Antonio. The next day we visited Mission Espada, ate at Taqueria Los Portillos, then drove north to and visited the San Antonio LDS Temple. We drove to Taylor to visit the famous Louie Mueller Barbecue, but they'd closed early because they ran out of food. So we stopped at another restaurant nearby for a mediocre meal. We stayed the night in Round Rock. The next day we we visited the University of Texas at Austin campus, including the football stadium and the Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum which is part of the campus. We ate in Elgin at Southside Market and Barbeque, then visited the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Texas A&M campus, and visited the campus, including the massive football stadium. We drove by the Houston LDS Temple in Klein and spent the night in Houston. The next day we visited Space Center Houston, had lunch at T-Bone Tom's in Kemah, then flew home out of the Houston Airport. Our second trip was in 2014. We flew into Dallas/Fort Worth and immediately started for Little Rock, Arkansas. We stopped for a late lunch in Texarkana, Texas, before going into Arkansas, at Naaman's Championship BBQ. Several days later we drove into Dallas from Oklahoma City and visited the Dallas Art Museum and the nearby Guadalupe Cathedral. We drove to Arlington for the Texas Christkindl Market outside the Texas Rangers baseball stadium and spent the night in Dallas. The next day we attended the Lakewood LDS Ward in Dallas for an hour, then visited the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza (the Texas School Book Depository) where John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Then we visited the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum on the Southern Methodist University Campus, eating lunch at the on-sight Cafe 42. Later we visited the Museum of Biblical Art and had dinner at Meddlesome Moth. We spent the night in Dallas. The next day we drove 90 miles to Glen Rose and visited the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center and saw all kinds of African animals. Then we drove through Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose and another hour to Fort Worth where we walked the Fort Worth Stockyards. For dinner we ate at Y.O. Ranch Steakhouse in downtown Dallas and spent the night in Dallas. The next day we visited the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in Fort Worth, the IMAX Theater for the movie "Jerusalem," and ate lunch at Railhead Smokehouse in Fort Worth before flying home. Our third visit was in December 2018. We drove into El Paso, ate at Tabla, then drove 3 1/2 hours southeast to Alpine where we spent the night. Then we back-tracked 25 miles west to Marfa, ate breakfast at Marfa Burrito, then drove south 61 miles on Hwy 67 to Presidio. Then we followed Hwy 170 southeast for 50 miles along the Texas/Mexico border through Big Bend Ranch State Park, with stops at the Hoodoos and Closed Canyon. In Terlingua we ate at high Sierra Bar & Grill, then continued on to Big Bend NP and Santa Elena Canyon where we took a Rio Grande access to get close to the river. We drove Hwy 118 back to Alpine 80 miles to spend the night. The next morning we traveled 31 miles east to Marathon for breakfast at Oasis Cafe, then south on Hwy 285 to the eastern portion of Big Bend NP. It was about 20 miles to Boquillas Canyon where Sam and I hiked in about 3/4 mile. After a drive to Rio Grande Village, we drove to Panther Junction, then uphill into the Chisos Basin. On the way back out we stopped on the outskirts of Terlingua at Chili Pepper for dinner. It was back to Alpine on Hwy 118 to spend the night. The next morning we drove west to Marfa, ate at Jett's Grill in the Hotel Paisano, then a quick look at the Presidio County Courthouse. We stopped at Chinati Foundation to look at a Donald Judd outside installation, then drove to The Block for a visit to Judd's home and studio. We drove back to El Paso where we visited the El Paso Zoo, St. Patrick Cathedral and ate at Kiki's Restaurant and Bar. We spent the night in El Paso. The next morning we followed the El Paso Mission Trail from Ysleta Mission to Socorro Mission to San Elizario Presidio Chapel, then ate lunch at Quesadillas Estilo Villa Ahumada in Socorro, before flying home out of El Paso. My fourth visit was in early September 2019 with my nephew, John. We crossed the U.S./Mexico border from Matamoros, Tamaulipas to Brownsville and drove about 22 miles to Port Isabel where we spent the night. The next morning we drove 8 miles out onto South Padre Island, a spit on the Gulf of Mexico which creates a large lagoon, and walked the nature trails at South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center. Then we drove 24.5 miles back off the island and northeast on the lagoon side of the coast to the Visitors Center at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Reserve where we walked some nature trails and drove Lakeside Drive to Laguna Atascosa, a freshwater lake and walked the Gator Pond Trail to Alligator Pond. Then we drove back to Port Isabel and visited the Dolphin Research and Sealife Nature Center and took a small motor boat out into the lagoon where we saw bottle nose dolphins and various sea birds. For lunch we ate at Los Tortugo's Seafood Market in Port Isabel. We headed back to Mexico, first on Hwy 48, then to Hwy 550, then I-69E through San Benito and Harlingen, then on I-2 to McAllen, where we headed south and crossed the border near Hidalgo into Mexico near Reynosa, Tamaulipas. In March 2021 we visited Texas again (Judy's fourth, my fifth). We flew into Amarillo, in the Panhandle. The next morning we visited VW Slug Bug Ranch, east of Amarillo, a takeoff on Cadillac Ranch, west of Amarillo, which we visited later that afternoon. Then we drove 77 miles south on Hwy 207 through Claude, including a stop at Lake Mackenzie, a drive through Silverton and then Quitaque (which we learned is pronounced kitty-kway), where we purchased groceries at Merrell Food and grabbed lunch at Bison Cafe. We drove three miles north to Caprock Canyons State Park where we took a short hike and spent some time at a bird blind near a small lake. Then it was 95 miles northwest to Cadillac Ranch and then 10 miles east to Crush restaurant in Amarillo. After dinner we spent the night 20 miles south in Canyon. The next morning we drove 14.5 miles west to Buffalo Lake NWR, then back to Canyon to visit the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum. We ate lunch at Sayakomarn's Thai Restaurant, then drove 13 miles southeast to Palo Duro Canyon State Park where we were turned away because it was full. So we took a short drive along the rim, then returned to Buffalo Lake NWR, then back to Canyon for the night. The next morning we returned to Palo Duro Canyon (and got in) and drove the one way road in and out, then drove 104 miles south to Lubbock where we stopped at the Texas Tech University campus, including the football stadium. We ate lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Restaurant, then visited the Buddy Holly Center, including his statue across the street. Then we drove 118 miles south to Midland and visited the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, drove by the George W. Bush Boyhood Home, then drove 23 miles south to Odessa and drove around town looking for painted jackrabbit statues. We spent the night in Midland. It was raining the next morning and the I-20 Wildlife Reserve was closed, so we drove 107 miles southeast to San Angelo State Park, with a brunch stop in Sterling. In San Angelo State Park I spent time at a bird feeder, then got lost on my way back to the car. Then it started to pour rain. We skipped Fort Concho and drove into San Angelo and ate at Zero One Ale House. Afterwards Judy looked at murals in town, then we did an extended walk along the Concho River Walk, including a stop at the International Waterlily Collection (but only one was blooming). We spent the night in San Angelo. The next morning we drove 165 miles through Menard, Mason and Fredericksburg, to the LBJ Ranch in Stonewall, then 14 miles east to Johnson City where we saw the outside of LBJ's Boyhood Home. Then we drove 24 miles north to Marble Falls and had lunch at Local Eats Craft Food, a food truck. Then it was 14 miles further northwest to Longhorn Cavern State Park where we took a 90 minute tour of Longhorn Cavern. Afterwards we drove back to Marble Falls and checked in to our hotel, walked historic Main Street in Marble Falls to look at the sculptures there, then drove 29 miles to the Shin Oak Observation Deck near Liberty Hill, part of Balcones Canyonlands NWR, where we did not see any birds. We spent the night in Marble Falls. The next morning we drove out to Doeskin Ranch, a different part of Balcones Canyonlands NWR and walked the pond and creek trails. Then we drove into Austin and checked into our hotel near the Texas Capitol Building. We left the car and walked to and visited the Texas Capitol, then walked south to Saint Mary's Catholic Cathedral and then had lunch at Modern Market Farm Fresh Eatery, next door to the Mexic-Arte Museum which we then visited. We walked down to the Congress Street Bridge, where the Mexican free-tailed bats roost, then took Lyft up to the Bullock Texas State History Museum. Afterwards we took Lyft to Magnolia Cafe South for dinner, then walked 1.3 miles to the Colorado River (called Ladybird Lake at that point) near the Congress Street Bridge and took a bat-watching tour with Lone Star Riverboat. We took Lyft back to our hotel that night where we were woken about 4:00 a.m. to the largest hailstorm we've ever experienced. The next morning we drove 11 miles to McKinney Falls State Park and visited both the Lower and Upper Falls. We dropped off our rental car at the hotel and walked to the Jack S. Blanton Museum of Art on the UT-Austin campus, then walked through campus to see the Clock Tower where there was a 1966 mass shooting. We walked back to the hotel, picked up our rental car and drove to Torchys Tacos and Magnolia Cafe South, where we each got something to eat, then to the Austin Airport to fly home. In June/July 2021 we visited Texas again (Judy's 5th and my 6th visit), this time primarily as a base to fly into and out of (El Paso) while we visited New Mexico. We flew into El Paso, rented a car and immediately drove north to Las Cruces, NM, leaving Texas behind. Toward the end of our trip we drove into Texas from Carlsbad, NM to visit Guadalupe Mountains NP. We did a nature trail at the visitor center and a short hike into McKittrick Canyon that had other-wise been closed because of flash-flood danger. Then we drove back to Carlsbad. At the end of our trip we left Las Cruces and drove back to El Paso to spend part of a day there before our flight out the next morning. We visited the UTEP campus and particularly the Sun Bowl football stadium, the El Paso Museum of Art in downtown, had a fabulous meal at L & J Cafe and drove the Scenic Drive for a wonderful view of El Paso. We spent the night at a hotel near the airport and flew out the next morning. In November 2021 we visited southestern Texas (my 7th visit to Texas and Judy's 6th). We flew into Houston late morning, rented a car, and drove to Beaumont where we visited St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica and the Art Museum of Southeast Texas, spent some time at the Cattail Marsh Scenic Wetlands and Boardwalk and had a wonderful dinner at Floyd's Cajun Seafood and Texas Steakhouse. We drove to Louisiana for the night and most of the next day, but had dinner at a Greek restaurant and spent the next night in Port Arthur, Texas. The next morning we visited the Museum of the Gulf Coast in Port Arthur, then drove into Houston, about 92 miles, and visited the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and had a wonderful meal in the museum's cafeteria. Late afternoon we drove 227 miles to Corpus Christi where we spent the next two nights. Thanksgiving Day we drove to Padre Island National Seashore, twice, including a drive five miles down the beach beyond Malaquite Campground on North Padre Island. We also drove to Port Aransas and visited the Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center and the Joan and Scott Holt Paradise Pond Birding Center, then ate our Thanksgiving meal late afternoon at Landry's Seafood House where we each had fish. There was a big thunderstorm with lots of rain, but we drove through Rose Hill Memorial Park without getting out. The next day we drove 89 miles to Aransas NWR and drove the auto tour route and I hiked the Heron Flats Trail and saw and heard two whooping cranes at some distance. Then we drove back to Rockport for a three hour Whooping Crane & Coastal Birding Tour with Rockport Birding and Kayak Adventures. We took a boat with about 35 other people into the waters of Aransas NWR and saw about 30 whooping cranes, some of them very close up. Afterwards, we drove about 100 miles to Bay City where we spent the night. The next morning, full of rain and gloom, we drove to Brazoria NWR and did the Big Slough Auto Tour. Afterwards we drove to Galveston, entering Galveston Island at the west end and stopped at Galveston Island State Park (it was so cold and rainy that we did little more than drive around). We drove to the Pier 21 Theater and watched "The Great Storm" about the hurricane that hit Galveston in 1900, had dinner at Guaido's then spent that night and the next in Galveston. The next morning we took a three hour segway tour with SegCity Tours Galveston, had lunch at Gypsey Joynt, visited the Bryan Museum, the Bishop's Palace and walked the Strand. Our last day, we drove into Houston and visited the Rice University Campus, spent about three hours at the Houston Zoo, visited the street murals at Leeland and Chartres and St. Emanual streets, had lunch at Roostar Vietnamese Grill, then visited the National Museum of Funeral History before going to the Houston Airport (IAH) for our flight home.
Utah [Level 5]
I lived in Utah the first 18 years of my life and for 5 years after my LDS mission. I also visit once a year or more to see family. I have more breadth in Utah, by far, than any other state. I've been in all of the major cities and most of the towns of any size. I've climbed the high point, King's Peak, and visited the capitol building in Salt Lake City several times. I went to school at BYU for a year and the University of Utah for four years. I've visited all five national parks at least twice: Zion, Bryce, Canyonlands, Arches and Capital Reef. I've visited the following national monuments, except one, at least twice: Timpanogos Cave (once), Dinosaur, Cedar Breaks, Natural Bridges, Rainbow Bridge, Hovenweep, and Grand Staircase - Escalante. I've been to both National Recreation Areas: Glen Canyon and Flaming Gorge. I've been to the following state parks: Antelope Island, Bear Lake, Coral Pink Sand Dunes, Dead Horse Point, Deer Creek, East Canyon, Echo Reservoir, Escalante Petrified Forest, Flight Park, Goblin Valley, Goosenecks, Great Salt Lake, Green River, Jordanelle, Kodachrome Basin, Rockport, Snow Canyon, Territorial Statehouse, This Is The Place Heritage, Utah Fieldhouse of Natural History, Utah Lake, Wasatch Mountain and Willard Bay. Recently I've been visiting Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge and Antelope Island State Park on most visits and have been to Fish Springs NWR twice.
Vermont [Level 1]
In September 2011 we drove from Hanover, New Hampshire about 20 miles northwest up the I-89 to Sourth Royalton, Vermont, the birthplace of Joseph Smith, which includes a visitors center. Then we drove another 47 miles north up the I-89 to Waterbury where we had a tour at the Ben & Jerry's factory and a wonderful meal at Hen of the Wood. We stayed on the I-89 for another 53 miles to St. Albans, about 20 miles from the Canadian border, where we spent the night. The next day we drove to Montreal, Quebec and back and stayed in St. Albans again. We traveled a zig-zaggy 50 miles southeast route to Stowe with the intent of driving up, then hiking the remaining distance to Mt. Mansfield, the highest point in Vermont. But the route was closed, so we drove 33 miles east to Walden where we stopped at Rowell Sugarhouse and bought different grades of mapel syrup. From there it was another 42 miles southeast to Franconia, NH, most of it in Vermont.
Virginia [Level 2]
In August 1978, following my LDS mission to England, I stayed in Alexandria for several days with my brother Mike, and he showed me the sites in Washington, D.C. In October 2013 we drove from Harpers Ferry into Virginia near Winchester, then drove 71 miles southwest on the I-81 to Harrisonburg where we spent the night. The next morning we drove east on Hwy 33 to the Skyline Drive in Shenadoah National Park, then followed it south from Swift Run Gap to Rockfish Gap near I-64. Then we drove east on I-64 to the outskirts of Charlottesville where we visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello, then the University of Virginia campus. We drove back west on I-64 to Staunton where we visited the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace and Presidential Library and went to the Blackfriar's Playhouse and saw "Return to the Hidden Planet." Afterwards we drove southwest on I-64 to near Lexington, then followed it west into West Virginia. In May 2017, we flew into Dulles, which is in Virginia, to visit Washington, D.C. and stayed three nights in Alexandria, which is south of Washington across the Potomac River. One of the mornings we traveled further south to Mount Vernon to visit George Washington's home and estate. At the end of our trip we stayed the night in Sterling, which is near Dulles, before flying home the next morning.
Washington [Level 4]
In July and August 1995 our family took a trip to Washington and British Columbia. We flew into SeaTac, then drove south on the I-5 to Olympia, east on Hwy 8 to Hoquiam, then north on Hwy 101 into Olympic NP. We drove down the South Shore Drive of Lake Quinault and saw and heard elk bugling and a black bear. We spent the night in Lake Quinault. In the morning we continued north on Hwy 101 with stops at Beach No. 4, Ruby Beach, and then the Hoh Rain Forest. We drove to La Push on the Quillayute Indian Reservation where we spent the night. In the morning we drove to Rialto Beach, near La Push, but requiring a long drive to get to the other side of the Quillayute River. We drove northeast to Crescent Lake, then hiked to Marymere Falls. We drove into Port Angeles, then into the Olympic Mountains to Hurricane Ridge. We spent the night in Sequim. In the morning we drove over the Hood Canal Bridge to SeaTac where we picked up my brother Matt. We drove to Eatonville and visited Northwest Trek, a zoo for North American animals. We spent the night in Mount Haven, near the Nisqually entrance to Rainier NP. Matt and I did climbing school with Rainier Mountaineering and then climbed Mt. Rainier, the high point in Washington. We drove to the west side of Mt. St. Helens NM and visited Wolf Haven near Tenino, south of Olympia. The next day we visited Seattle and the Pike Street Market and visited our friends in Kent. We drove to Port Angeles and took the Ferry to Victoria. We entered back into Washington from Vancouver down the I-5. We turned east on Hwy 20 and drove to Concrete and stayed at Clark's Skagit River Cabins. We drove into and through North Cascade NP to Mazama on the other side of the Cascades. We took a day long horse back trip about five miles in and did some fishing and had a picnic lunch. We spent the night in Mazama. We drove to Winthrop for dinner that night. The next day we took a rubber boat three hours down the Skagit River hitting some class II and mild class III rapids, a distance of about 12 miles. We stayed in Concrete again at Clark's Skagit River Cabins and ate in Marblemount for dinner. We flew home the next day. At a time I don't recall, I flew into Spokane to meet with a potential client in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In October 2016 Judy had a seminar in Seattle. I went with her and drove out to Cashmere to see Sam, where he was living. We drove southeast to the Columbia River then followed it north as far as Lake Chelan. We ate at the Riverwalk Cafe. He had to get to work, so I took him back to Cashmere and drove back to Seattle. I had a whale watching trip scheduled the next day and it was raining a downpour and was canceled. So I walked into the Pike Street Market and other places downtown. The next day Judy and I drove out to see Sam and drove into Leavenworth where he worked and did a little bit of hiking in Tumwater Canyon. Then we drove into East Wenatchee for lunch at Fonda Oaxaquena. We spent the night in Bellevue and flew home the next day. In December 2016 we crossed the Columbia River Gorge from Oregon into Washington into Vancouver and visited the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater. We continued east on the Washington side of the Columbia River until Cascade Locks when we crossed back over to Oregon.
In July and August 1995 our family took a trip to Washington and British Columbia. We flew into SeaTac, then drove south on the I-5 to Olympia, east on Hwy 8 to Hoquiam, then north on Hwy 101 into Olympic NP. We drove down the South Shore Drive of Lake Quinault and saw and heard elk bugling and a black bear. We spent the night in Lake Quinault. In the morning we continued north on Hwy 101 with stops at Beach No. 4, Ruby Beach, and then the Hoh Rain Forest. We drove to La Push on the Quillayute Indian Reservation where we spent the night. In the morning we drove to Rialto Beach, near La Push, but requiring a long drive to get to the other side of the Quillayute River. We drove northeast to Crescent Lake, then hiked to Marymere Falls. We drove into Port Angeles, then into the Olympic Mountains to Hurricane Ridge. We spent the night in Sequim. In the morning we drove over the Hood Canal Bridge to SeaTac where we picked up my brother Matt. We drove to Eatonville and visited Northwest Trek, a zoo for North American animals. We spent the night in Mount Haven, near the Nisqually entrance to Rainier NP. Matt and I did climbing school with Rainier Mountaineering and then climbed Mt. Rainier, the high point in Washington. We drove to the west side of Mt. St. Helens NM and visited Wolf Haven near Tenino, south of Olympia. The next day we visited Seattle and the Pike Street Market and visited our friends in Kent. We drove to Port Angeles and took the Ferry to Victoria. We entered back into Washington from Vancouver down the I-5. We turned east on Hwy 20 and drove to Concrete and stayed at Clark's Skagit River Cabins. We drove into and through North Cascade NP to Mazama on the other side of the Cascades. We took a day long horse back trip about five miles in and did some fishing and had a picnic lunch. We spent the night in Mazama. We drove to Winthrop for dinner that night. The next day we took a rubber boat three hours down the Skagit River hitting some class II and mild class III rapids, a distance of about 12 miles. We stayed in Concrete again at Clark's Skagit River Cabins and ate in Marblemount for dinner. We flew home the next day. At a time I don't recall, I flew into Spokane to meet with a potential client in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In October 2016 Judy had a seminar in Seattle. I went with her and drove out to Cashmere to see Sam, where he was living. We drove southeast to the Columbia River then followed it north as far as Lake Chelan. We ate at the Riverwalk Cafe. He had to get to work, so I took him back to Cashmere and drove back to Seattle. I had a whale watching trip scheduled the next day and it was raining a downpour and was canceled. So I walked into the Pike Street Market and other places downtown. The next day Judy and I drove out to see Sam and drove into Leavenworth where he worked and did a little bit of hiking in Tumwater Canyon. Then we drove into East Wenatchee for lunch at Fonda Oaxaquena. We spent the night in Bellevue and flew home the next day. In December 2016 we crossed the Columbia River Gorge from Oregon into Washington into Vancouver and visited the Proto-Cathedral of St. James the Greater. We continued east on the Washington side of the Columbia River until Cascade Locks when we crossed back over to Oregon.
Washington, D.C. [Level 2]
In August 1976 I visited Washington, D.C. with my brother Mike, right after my LDS mission to England. He was working for Congressman Gunn McKay of Utah at the time, so I got to visit Gunn McKay's office in the U.S. Capitol Building and saw some of the argument on the Senate floor for the Equal Rights Amendment. I don't remember all we saw, but specifically remember the Smithsonian Natural History Museum and the U.S. Constitution which is on display in the rotunda of the National Archives Building. In May 2017 we spent 2 1/2 days in Washington. We did the following: Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington National Cathedral, Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, Ford's Theatre, including the play Ragtime, Peterson House, Newseum, National Portrait Gallery, Library of Congress, Washington Monument, World War II Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill.
West Virginia [Level 3]
In October 2013 we flew into Charleston, then drove northeast on the I-79 to Sutton where we spent the night. The next morning we continued north on I-79 to Hwy 48 where we headed east to Elkins and then on Hwy 33 into the Monongahela National Forest where we drove to Spruce Knob, the tallest point in West Virginia, in a snowstorm. We drove back past Seneca Rocks and took Hwy 33 until Hwy 32 and followed it north to Blackwater Falls State Park where we enjoyed the falls in a renewed snowstorm. We spent the night in Davis and enjoyed dinner at Hellbender's Burritos. The next morning we drove northeast up Hwy 48, up to Hwy 50 to Hwy 220 where we entered Maryland and visited Antietam. We came back into West Virginia at Harpers Ferry where we walked the town, visited St. Peter's Catholic Church, and took a ghost tour. From Harpers Ferry we traveled to Charles Town, then south on Hwy 340 into Virginia. Later we entered back into West Virginia on I-64 from Virginia and spent the night in Lewisburg. The next morning we took the I-64 to Beckley where we visited Tamarack, then spent an hour at the LDS Ward in Beckley. We drove northwest up the I-64 to Charleston where we spent time at the West Virginia Capitol Building before flying back home from Charleston.
Wisconsin [Level 3]
In November 1968, with my father and grandparents, we drove from Illinois up the I-90, or whatever the road was at that time, through Janesville to Fort Atkinson, between Madison and Milwaukee. My father visited one of his clients, Leo Rothe, whose business was there. In June 1990, as a young lawyer, I went to Madison for a week long seminar at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. I stayed in the dorms on campus and flew into and out of Madison with a short flight from and to Chicago. We knew some people living in Spring Green near Madison at the time and I had an opportunity to go with them to their home and see Taliesen, the home, studio and country estate of Frank Lloyd Wright. I believe I went to the same seminar a number of years later, although I am not finding a record of it. I visited the Milwaukee County Zoo and drove into Milwaukee, although I could possibly have done all of that on my first trip. In October 2015, while visiting Judy's sister in Minnesota, we decided to drive to Wisconsin because Judy had not been there. We drove east to the Mississippi River, the border with Wisconsin, then east on I-94 for about 44 miles, just north of Menomonie, then south on Hwy 25 for 27 miles to Caddie Woodlawn Historical Park. We backtracked to Menominie where we had dessert at Legacy Chocolates, then drove back to Minnesota. In June 2016, spending time on both sides of a legal seminar in Madison (the second or third time I'd been to it), I flew into Milwaukee and then drove 210 miles north to the Michigan border, first on I-43 to Green Bay, then Hwy 131. I re-entered Wisconsin at Land O'Lakes, the border with Michigan, and drove 93 miles southwest to Timm's Hill, the high point of Wisconsin, first down Hwy 45, then west on Hwy 8. From Timm's Hill it was 202 miles south to Madison, most of it on I-90. In Madison I broke away for a quick visit to the Henry Vilas Zoo. Judy joined me in Madison at the end of the seminar and we visited the Chazen Museum of Art and other parts of the University of Wisconsin campus, visited the Wisconsin Capitol Building, the Unitarian Church designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, and had some wonderful meals at The Old Fashioned and Graze. We drove east toward Milwaukee and visited the Milwaukee County Zoo. In Milwaukee we saw the outside of Frank Lloyd Wright's designed Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, visited the Milwaukee Art Museum and the Basilica of Saint Josaphat and ate at Buckley's Restaurant and Bar and Kegel's Inn. We spent a night in Milwaukee and drove north to Cedarburg, where we walked around, then to Green Bay where we visited Lambeau Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. We spent a night in Green Bay. Then we drove north about 87 miles to the end of the Door Peninsula which juts into Lake Michigan, forming Green Bay, including a visit to Cave Point County Park. We drove back to Milwaukee for the night and flew home the next morning.
Wyoming [Level 3]
I've had lots of contact with Wyoming, but most of it was early in my life. I visited Yellowstone at least once, and probably more, as a young boy. As a youth I went twice to the BSA Teton High Adventure Canoe Base and canoed down the Snake River. As newly marrieds we visited Yellowstone. My only written travel recollection was in May 1990, as part of our family "National Parks Trip," we drove north on Hwy 191 from Utah to Rock Springs, on continued north on Hwy 191 to Pinedale where we spent the night. That evening we drove out to Half Moon Lake to view wildlife. The next morning we visited Faler's General Store and drove out Skyline Drive past Half Moon Lake near Elkhart Park until we were stopped by snow in the road. We got beautiful views of the Wind River Mountains. We ate lunch in Pinedale City Park and visited Fort Ashley. We drove north to Jackson on Hwy 191 and then to Grand Teton NP and camped at Jenny Lake. Judy took Andrew to a doctor in Jackson and I took Sam and Rachael on a horse ride around Moose Pond. We drove through Grand Teton into Yellowstone NP and drove toward Madison, then spent the night at the Old Faithful Inn. The next morning we met other cousins who arrived and checked into the cabins next to the Old Faithful Lodge. We took the road toward Madison and took Firehole Lake Drive. Early the next morning Stan Jones and I went on a wildlife lookout drive, up through Madison Junction, through Hayden Valley, down to the edge of Lake Yellowstone. With the family we drove to West Yellowtone, Montana for dinner and on the way back went to the Norris Geyser Basin. The next day we went to West Thumb and around Lake Yellowstone and then drove to the east entrance of Yellowstone. We continued to Ataska Teepee, Wapiti and on to Cody where we visited the Buffalo Bill Museum and Old Trail Town. We headed south to Meteetse, where the black footed ferrets were discovered after being thought extinct, stopped at Hell's Half Acre and continued on to Douglas where we spent the night. From Douglas we continued south on I-25 into Colorado.
I've had lots of contact with Wyoming, but most of it was early in my life. I visited Yellowstone at least once, and probably more, as a young boy. As a youth I went twice to the BSA Teton High Adventure Canoe Base and canoed down the Snake River. As newly marrieds we visited Yellowstone. My only written travel recollection was in May 1990, as part of our family "National Parks Trip," we drove north on Hwy 191 from Utah to Rock Springs, on continued north on Hwy 191 to Pinedale where we spent the night. That evening we drove out to Half Moon Lake to view wildlife. The next morning we visited Faler's General Store and drove out Skyline Drive past Half Moon Lake near Elkhart Park until we were stopped by snow in the road. We got beautiful views of the Wind River Mountains. We ate lunch in Pinedale City Park and visited Fort Ashley. We drove north to Jackson on Hwy 191 and then to Grand Teton NP and camped at Jenny Lake. Judy took Andrew to a doctor in Jackson and I took Sam and Rachael on a horse ride around Moose Pond. We drove through Grand Teton into Yellowstone NP and drove toward Madison, then spent the night at the Old Faithful Inn. The next morning we met other cousins who arrived and checked into the cabins next to the Old Faithful Lodge. We took the road toward Madison and took Firehole Lake Drive. Early the next morning Stan Jones and I went on a wildlife lookout drive, up through Madison Junction, through Hayden Valley, down to the edge of Lake Yellowstone. With the family we drove to West Yellowtone, Montana for dinner and on the way back went to the Norris Geyser Basin. The next day we went to West Thumb and around Lake Yellowstone and then drove to the east entrance of Yellowstone. We continued to Ataska Teepee, Wapiti and on to Cody where we visited the Buffalo Bill Museum and Old Trail Town. We headed south to Meteetse, where the black footed ferrets were discovered after being thought extinct, stopped at Hell's Half Acre and continued on to Douglas where we spent the night. From Douglas we continued south on I-25 into Colorado.
Wow, this is an absolutely AMAZING run-down of our travels in the U.S. (and some of yours without me). Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteVery impressive list. It is hard to gauge a level of a visit. I have lived and traveled in California almost all my life but I still find new places all the time to visit. For me the capitol challenge helps as an indicator, but I also like the idea of level of visit.
ReplyDeleteYeah, you could live in Los Angeles your entire life and never see all of Los Angeles. The capitol is one small piece, but I've never been to Sacramento and still consider that I know California pretty well. I looked at major cities and tourist sites in considering breadth. So, although I've been to Tennessee 3 times and Texas 3 time, I give Tennessee a 2 and Texas a 4, as my Tennessee experience was primarily in the southwestern portion in Memphis (we haven't been to Nashville or the Smokeys) and in Texas we've traveled big chunks of the north, center, south and west, covering all of the major cities.
DeleteI am amazed to know about your goals and I am happy that you visited the 50 states of the United States. After reading your journey with Alaska I am keen to visit this state with my best friend, I plan to go When She come back from her bus trips to chicago.
ReplyDeleteI liked your shared stuff about united states travel. I enjoyed reading about different places of America. Now I am keen to explore them. I will go to USA after enjoying short trips from las vegas.
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